Photo Credit: Zack Hill
Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher had an itchy trigger finger yesterday, and plucked an experienced Center/Winger from the Montreal Canadiens in Nate Thompson in exchange for a fifth rounder in 2021 in the first of two trades made.
Thompson is an intelligent hockey player. He is strong defensively, and really has a keen hockey sense. Thompson isn’t the fastest skater, but he can pot goals in tight spaces, and is tough to move off the puck. He plays a two-way game, and possesses puck skills to succeed at the NHL level. For his efforts, Thompson can play the penalty kill, and he is a sizable Forward down the middle as he stands 6’1″ 217 pounds. Another area of his game that is sometimes underappreciated is faceoffs. Thompson is one of the best in the business at winning faceoffs. For the season, Thompson owns a 55.1 winning percentage on draws.
This 35-year-old in Thompson is a solid versatile, bottom 9 player that plays the game the right way, and is good in the locker room. Moreover, Thompson will fit in well in Head Coach Alain Vigneault’s system, as he is a defensive first type of player. However, Thompson can pot a big goal or two, as well. For the season, he has registered 4 goals, and 10 assists for 14 points in 63 games played.
Thompson was also an Assistant Captain for the Canadiens. His leadership could really rub off on the youth, and this addition also gives the youth less pressure to succeed. The playoffs are a different atmosphere, and the Flyers should not be reliant on the youth for immediate success in the post-season.
Again Thompson wasn’t the flashiest, or sexiest addition by any means. However, he checks off boxes of need for the Flyers overall. Now it’s time to see how this addition helps the Flyers post-season push.
