BUFFALO – Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice said if you analyze elite NHL players, they all have soft hands, terrific shots and a mind for the game.
What makes 6-foot-6 Sabres center Tage Thompson such a unique talent is the range he possesses.
“The ability to control the puck across that body,” Maurice said prior to tonight’s game against the Sabres in KeyBank Center. “The standard thing you can say defensively against any elite players is time and space, but it’s far more difficult to put pressure on the puck when you can’t reach it.
“So he can keep it across his body, take it across his body, moves very well with it. He’s a lot to handle.”
Thompson has been bear to handle over the past two weeks, having scored six goals and 10 points during his six-game point streak. Maurice believes the special attention paid to superstars like the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl must be given to Thompson.
“We view him as one of those unique players in the National Hockey League when you play Edmonton with the two big centermen they have there,” he said. “There’s some guys you almost have to different game plan because their skill set is so unusual.”