Former Soo Greyhound & Sudbury Wolf Jack Thompson has been traded as a part of the Anthony Duclair deal that sent Duclair to Tampa Bay.
Jack Thompson has been traded as a prospect in the deal that sent Anthony Duclair to the Tampa Bay Lightning. As a result, Thompson will be heading to California to join the San Jose Barracuda — the Sharks AHL affiliate.
Thompson is a high end prospect and the Lightning may have just traded away a future top four defender. When thinking about him in Tampa Bay's system, it makes a lot of sense. Thompson is a big defenceman who can skate well and create offence consistently.
In San Jose, I see Thompson playing with the big club sooner rather than later. He has 32 points in 46 games with Syracuse in the AHL this season as a second-year player. Thompson ranked second among that team in points — as a defenceman.
Thompson was drafted in the 3rd round in 2020 by the Lightning during the "pandemic draft". He really didn't "breakout" until his final OHL season where he put up 23 points in 29 games wearing the 'C' for Sudbury, before being traded to the Soo Greyhounds. During that stent with the Soo, he had 34 points in 36 games.
The San Jose's prospect pool lacks in a lot of areas, but especially on the back end. Thompson makes them quite a bit stronger, and he may even receive a call-up before the end of this season.
He has proven that he can generate offence at the professional level, and he should continue to do that with some time in the NHL. The former OHLer is making a name for himself in the NHL, especially being a big piece in this trade at the NHL Trade Deadline.