Thompson Closing in on Return | PROSPECT WATCH

Tyce Thompson is still about a month away, but he's itching to get back into action.
Thompson, 22, was injured against the New York Islanders back in November. The Devils forward prospect had surgery to fix a torn labrum soon after and embarked on a scheduled five-month rehabilitation plan that has just passed the four-month mark.
Right now, he's been skating with other injured Devils Miles Wood and Janne Kuokkanen, having progressed into full skating/shooting drills, but he is still a ways from full contact. Overall, the surgery was a success and he has a so-far-so-good outlook.
"I feel good, my shoulder feels stronger," explained Thompson, while detailing the progression in training to get back to full strength. "There are times, not on the ice, but in the gym I still have to be careful not to push it (too much)."
An optimistic timeline has him returning to action, likely with the Utica Comets, with perhaps as many as a handful of games left in the American Hockey League regular season with that team hoping for a long playoff run to follow.

Thompson signed with the Devils last spring after a stellar three-year career at Providence College, a program that has Devils ties across multi-generations. First eligible in 2017, he twice went unselected but was taken in the fourth round (96th overall) in 2019 after a solid freshman year for the Friars.
Originally a late bloomer, Thompson's development since has probably went a bit faster than expected even factoring in the injury.
"Tyce was ready to (turn pro)," said Providence head coach Nate Leaman.
Leaman made those comments last month during a conversation that was centered around Luke Hughes. Leaman had coached Hughes on Team USA at the most recent World Junior that was cancelled but is now rescheduled for August; another Devils prospect, Patrick Moynihan, is in his junior year with the Friars and was on Leaman's gold medal-winning squad a year earlier.
We asked Leaman a few questions about Thompson, for context, on which he expanded the following:
"We had Tyce doing everything here, power play, penalty kill, playing multiple roles and (positions) as the (situation allowed) … hockey-wise, Tyce was ready to turn pro."
Indeed. A couple of weeks after leaving Providence, Devils fans will likely recall, Thompson made his NHL debut against his brother, Tage, and the Buffalo Sabres. He notched an assist on just his second shift when Damon Severson scored. He played six more NHL games, and another 11 with the Devils AHL affiliate to end the 2020-21 season.
"I think looking back that I made the right decision, it was the right time," said Thompson, of the 11 months he has had to digest being a pro. "I was really fortunate to get those seven games (with the Devils) and it definitely helped heading into this season."
With the AHL affiliate moved to Utica, Thompson started strong this year as a point-a-game player through seven games (4G-3A), earning a callup but was hurt in just his second game on Nov 11. He had previously played two days earlier against Florida, seeing identical 14:25 minutes of ice in both games. Being injured long-term is never pleasant, especially when you're on the AHL-NHL shuttle. Still, Thompson remains among the top rung of Devils prospects despite the murky status that tends to follow players who are coming off long injury layoffs.
Beyond the physically progression, he also wants to be mentally ready when he gets the green light to return, be it in New Jersey or Utica.
"I haven't talked to management about a (specific) plan…It may take a game or two," he said, in reference to getting his timing back "but it's important to be ready and that's really what I'm doing now to prepare for it."
The value in Thompson's game is his versatility. He is a right-shot and plays both the wing and center equally well. His up-tempo style, playmaking ability and skill set suggest an up-and-down the lineup forward. He's got a slickness to him but as he fills out, he should also be able to play in straight-ahead situations when a high-energy role, say, killing penalties, or during five-on-five, when a dogged forecheck and general pain-in-the-backside (for opponents) puck pursuit is required.
And there is of course the family angle as Tage is one of the NHL's break-out players this season. Understandably, Devils fans could be wondering about Tyce's upside with his brother already at 23 goals and 42 points for the season
Tage is two years older and a different type of player, largely because of his size, though the weight gap will close. For what it's worth, Tage didn't stop growing until he was about Tyce's age now (Tage is listed as 6-foot-7, 218, six inches taller and about 40 pounds heavier than Tyce). During a chat last year, Brent Thompson, their father and a retired pro now coaching Bridgeport of the AHL, said he never achieved full physically maturity until he was about 25.
Talent is not truly genetic - the puck doesn't know anything about the players chasing it - but it's also much better to look across the dinner table and see a top NHL player that you hope to be some day. Not to mention a training partner during the off-season.
"It doesn't surprise me," he said of his brother's season so far, where he's emerged as the Sabres No. 1 center. "He's always been a skilled player and he's now getting opportunities on the power play and stuff like that."
The Thompson brothers just spent their first summer together in Phoenix since both have played in the NHL. Tyce plans another vital off-season scrimmaging with a group that also includes Rocket Richard Trophy-leader Auston Mathews, who grew up in the Phoenix area.
Skating with one of the NHL's best players and an emerging star in his own brother, well, there could be worse company to keep.
"Auston Mathews' agent puts the skate together," said Thompson, looking back to last summer and forward to this one, "… it's a good skate, obviously, and a good opportunity."