Thompson ranks second in the NHL with 30 goals and third with 55 points. He has recorded three hat tricks and two six-point games, including the second five-goal performance in Sabres history. The NHL named him Third Star of the Month for December.
"He just takes steps every week it feels like," Dahlin said. "He's getting comfortable in his own game. You guys see what he does every day. The way he scores goals and stuff, he's so big and the skill he has and the confidence he has right now, it's fun to watch. He definitely deserves where he's at right now."
Thompson's current stature is a testament to his hard work through adversity. He was acquired by the Sabres in summer 2018 from the St. Louis Blues, who had drafted him 26th overall two years prior.
Thompson played 65 games in his first season with Buffalo but saw limited ice time. He started the next season in Rochester, played well enough to earn a recall in November, and sustained a season-ending injury in his first game with the Sabres.
As recently as 2021, Thompson spent much of his time working on the taxi squad while a more veteran Sabres team navigated the first half of a COVID-shortened season. Granato took over in March of that year and empowered Thompson with ice time, then doubled down on his belief in the forward by moving him to center prior to the following training camp.
Thompson rewarded his coach's faith with a breakout, 38-goal campaign. He only set his sights higher after signing a seven-year contract extension this past offseason.
All of it seemed worth it upon receiving the news Thursday.
"It's been a tough journey, tough road, and I've definitely faced a lot of adversity along the way," Thompson said. "So, I think it just makes you grateful for where you're at in your career now. It makes you not want to take things like this for granted. So. just something I'm going to be able to enjoy, something that I've worked for. It's going to be a rewarding feeling."
Here are more notes from Friday's practice at KeyBank Center.
1. Thompson expressed hope that Dahlin will join him at the All-Star Game. Dahlin ranks third among NHL defensemen - first in the Eastern Conference - in both points and average ice time.
"I think you look at his season, he's dominant," Thompson said. "The numbers he's putting up and just how he takes over games and the impact he's had. I mean, he plays in every situation for us and he's logging huge minutes. I think his stats and his results show how well he's playing. I think he's obviously very deserving. He went last year and he's playing even better this year."
