In a moment of recognition for both a rising talent and a historic organization, Buffalo Sabres right winger Tage Thompson has been voted the NHL’s “Most Impactful Team Player” for the 2025 season, a prestigious accolade bestowed by the NHL Players’ Association and NHL Network. Thompson defeated a strong field of nominations, including Alexander Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon, David Pastrňák, and Connor McDavid, who are all long-time NHL stars.
This award, which takes into account on-ice performance, leadership, resilience, and impact on team success, is a historic recognition of Thompson’s exceptional season—one that saw him raise not only his individual game but the direction of the whole Sabres club.
Thompson, 27, ended the 2024-25 regular season with 48 goals, 52 assists, and a +26 rating, helping the Sabres to their first postseason berth in over a decade. His dominance on the ice was complemented by his leadership in the dressing room. Thompson was described by several teammates, including rising talents such as Jack Quinn and Owen Power, as the team’s emotional and strategic anchor.
“This award means everything to me,” Thompson stated during a news conference at KeyBank Center. “But it’s not just about me; this reflects how far we’ve come as a team. “The Buffalo Sabres are back on the map.”
Thompson is distinguished not just by his size and skill (he stands 6-foot-6 with lightning-quick hands and deceptive agility), but also by his unwavering determination. Thompson, despite early-career failures and injuries, has evolved as one of the NHL’s most feared forwards and respected leaders.
This season, he stood out for his clutch performance. He scored eleven game-winning goals, four of which came in overtime, and routinely performed in high-pressure situations against superior opponents. Perhaps no moment was more defining than his hat trick against the Boston Bruins in March, which bolstered Buffalo’s playoff prospects and highlighted Thompson’s MVP-caliber brilliance.
NHL Network commentators praised Thompson’s transition into the heartbeat of a resurgent Sabres team, pointing out how he transformed Buffalo hockey from a rebuilding project to a serious contender.