Tage Thompson
{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 1997)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Tage Thompson
| image = 2025-05-04 Deutschland gegen USA (Eishockey-Länderspiel) by Sandro Halank–027.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Thompson with Team USA in 2025
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|10|30}}
| birth_place = Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 220
| position = Center
| shoots = Right
| league = NHL
| team = Buffalo Sabres
| former_teams = St. Louis Blues
| ntl_team = USA
| draft = 26th overall
| draft_year = 2016
| draft_team = St. Louis Blues
| career_start = 2017
| career_end =
}}
Tage Nathaniel Thompson (born October 30, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Thompson was selected 26th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Thompson played his collegiate hockey at the University of Connecticut.
Early life
Thompson was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and lived across the United States, attending 11 different schools before accelerating his graduation from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after his junior year, at the University of Connecticut's request.{{cite web|last1=Olsen|first1=Becky|title=Tage Thompson Celebrates U18 Worlds Title With a Tumble|url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/518950?referrer_id=666974|website=usahockeyntdp.com|accessdate=March 29, 2018|date=May 26, 2015}}
Playing career
After playing in the U.S. National Development Team in the United States Hockey League, Thompson embarked on a collegiate career with Connecticut in the Hockey East conference. Thompson appeared in all 36 games during his freshman season at UConn in 2015–16 and was second on the team with 32 points on 14 goals and 18 assists. He also led the nation with 14 power play goals.{{cite web | url = http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/tage_thompson_970888.html | title = Tage Thompson player profile | publisher = Connecticut Huskies | date = January 2, 2016 | accessdate = January 2, 2016 | archive-date = December 21, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151221105901/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/tage_thompson_970888.html | url-status = dead }} Thompson wears jersey number #72 with his current team the Buffalo Sabres.
In the 2016–17 season, and after his selection by the Blues in the draft, Thompson appeared in 34 games with the Huskies as a sophomore. He missed two games while participating with Team USA in the IIHF World Junior U20 Championship in Canada which resulted in Thompson earning his second Gold Medal. During his 34 games, Thompson led the Huskies with 19 goals and 32 points.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-hockey/stats/2016-2017/teamcume.html|title= UCONN Huskies Team Stats|date= March 2, 2017 |website= Connecticut Huskies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023130535/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-hockey/stats/2016-2017/teamcume.html|archive-date=October 23, 2016|url-status=dead|access-date= March 2, 2017}} After the completion of the Huskies season, Thompson opted to conclude his collegiate career and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues on March 7, 2017.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/thompson-agrees-to-3-year-entry-level-deal/c-287469892 | title = Thompson agrees to three-year entry-level contract | publisher = St. Louis Blues | date = March 7, 2017 | accessdate = March 7, 2017}} He immediately joined the Blues affiliate, the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, on an amateur try-out contract for the remainder of the 2016–17 season.
Thompson made his NHL debut in the Blues' first game of the 2017–18 season against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 4, 2017.{{cite web|last1=Pinkert|first1=Chris|title=Projected Lineup: Oct. 4 at Pittsburgh|url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/projected-lineup-oct-4-at-pittsburgh/c-291549616|website=NHL.com|publisher=St. Louis Blues|accessdate=December 11, 2017|date=October 4, 2017}} He played four NHL games before being sent down to the San Antonio Rampage on October 13.{{cite web|last1=Pinkert|first1=Chris|title=Blues recall Blais from San Antonio|url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues-recall-blais-from-san-antonio/c-291884688|website=NHL.com|publisher=St. Louis Blues|accessdate=December 11, 2017|location=St. Louis|date=October 13, 2017}} He was recalled to the NHL on December 18, and scored his first NHL goal three days later, in a 3–2 loss against the Edmonton Oilers.{{cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=Jim|title=Blues recall Thompson from San Antonio|url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/blues-recall-thompson-from-san-antonio/article_5f204379-23b9-5d56-8f78-087a22a0aaf5.html|accessdate=December 22, 2017|publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=December 18, 2017|location=Calgary, AB}}{{cite web|title=Caggiula scores late, Oilers beat Blues for third straight win|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/caggiula-scores-late-oilers-beat-blues-third-straight-win/|website=Sportsnet.ca|publisher=Sportsnet|accessdate=December 22, 2017|location=Edmonton|date=December 21, 2017|quote=Thompson got a shot through traffic past Talbot for his first career NHL goal.}}
On July 1, 2018, he was part of a trade by the Blues that sent Patrik Berglund, Vladimír Sobotka and a 2019 first-round draft pick, and a 2021 second-round draft pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly.{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/sabres-sending-forward-o-reilly-to-blues-1.1128539 | title = Sabres sending forward Ryan O'Reilly to Blues | publisher = The Sports Network | date = July 1, 2018 | accessdate = July 1, 2018}}
On October 5, 2020, as a restricted free agent, Thompson signed a three-year, $4.2 million contract extension with the Sabres.{{cite web | last1=Ryndak | first1=Chris | url = https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-tage-thompson-to-3-year-contract/c-319307772 | title = Sabres sign Thompson to 3-year contract | publisher = Buffalo Sabres | date = October 5, 2020 | accessdate = October 5, 2020}}
Entering the 2021–22 season with low expectations for the Sabres, Thompson enjoyed a breakout season playing on the top line with Jeff Skinner and new acquisition Alex Tuch. He tallied his first career hat-trick on February 19, 2022, in a 5–3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.{{Cite web |last1=Ryndak |first1=Chris |title=Thompson's 1st-career hat trick comes in home loss to Colorado |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-postrgame-report-game-recap-colorado-avalanche-february-19-2022-tage-thompson-hat-trick-highlights/c-330985122 |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=NHL.com}} He would finish the season with 38 goals and 68 points in 78 games. On August 30, Thompson signed a seven-year, $50 million contract extension with the Sabres.{{cite web |last1=LaBarber |first1=Jourdon |title=Sabres, Thompson agree to 7-year contract extension |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-sign-forward-tage-thompson-seven-year-contract-extension/c-335423028 |website=NHL.com |access-date=February 3, 2023 |date=August 30, 2022}}
On October 31, 2022, Thompson scored a hat-trick and tallied three assists in an 8–3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He was the sixth player in franchise history to collect six points in a game,{{Cite web |last1=LaBarber |first1=Jourdon |title='One of those nights' {{!}} Thompson makes history with 6-point outing |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-detroit-red-wings-game-recap-postgame-report-tage-thompson-6-points-jeff-skinner-300th-nhl-goal/c-337042276 |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=NHL.com |date=November 1, 2022}} and he would do so again a little over one month later. On December 7, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, he scored five goals in a game including four in the first period, becoming the fourth player in NHL history to do so. He added an assist for a total of six points. His five goals also tied the Sabres franchise record for goals in a game, joining Dave Andreychuk.{{cite news |last1=Wyshynski |first1=Greg |title=Sabres' Tage Thompson ties team record with 5 goals vs. Columbus |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/35207265/sabres-tage-thompson-ties-team-record-5-goals-vs-columbus |access-date=December 8, 2022 |work=ESPN.com |date=December 7, 2022}} He also became only the second American-born player to score five times in a game; the first one, Mark Pavelich, did it 39 years before Thompson.{{cite web |last1=Merz |first1=Craig |title=Thompson scores five of nine Sabres goals in win against Blue Jackets |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/buffalo-sabres-columbus-blue-jackets-game-recap/c-338457848 |website=NHL.com |access-date=December 12, 2022 |date=December 7, 2022}} In January 2023, he was named to the 2023 NHL All Star Game, the first of his career, but would be replaced by defenseman Rasmus Dahlin due to injury.{{Cite web |last1=LaBarber |first1=Jourdon |title='Pure excitement' {{!}} Thompson to represent Sabres at All-Star Game |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-tage-thompson-selected-to-2023-nhl-all-star-game/c-339569656 |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=NHL.com |date=January 6, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/rasmus-dahlin-replaces-tage-thompson-at-nhl-all-star-game-1.1914304 |title=Dahlin replaces injured Sabres teammate Thompson at All-Star Game |website=TSN.ca |date=February 2, 2023 |access-date=July 24, 2023}} On February 23, Thompson became the first Sabres player to record four hat-tricks in a season since Drew Stafford in 2010–11, doing so in a 6–5 overtime win versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.{{Cite web |last1=Long |first1=Corey |title=Sabres recover, defeat Lightning on short-handed OT goal |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/buffalo-sabrestampa-bay-lightning-game-recap/c-341328492 |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=NHL.com |date=February 23, 2023}} Three days later, on February 26, he scored in a 7–4 win against the Washington Capitals, becoming a 40-goal scorer for the first time in his career, and the first player to do so for the Sabres since Jeff Skinner in 2018–19.{{Cite web |title=Dylan Cozens scores 3 in Sabres' 7-4 rout of Capitals |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401459537 |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=ESPN |date=February 26, 2023}} Later in the season, he became the first Sabres player to record 90 points in a season since Daniel Brière did so in 2006–07, picking up an assist in a 2–1 loss to the Florida Panthers.{{Cite web |title=Sabres' Tage Thompson: Game-time decision Thursday |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/sabres-tage-thompson-game-time-decision-thursday/ |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com |date=April 6, 2023}} In {{nhly|2023|season=y}}, his output per game dropped by 35% from the previous season, scoring 56 points in 71 games.
International play
{{MedalTableTop|name=}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ih|USA}}}}
{{MedalSport|Ice hockey}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2025 Sweden/Denmark|}}
{{MedalBronze|2018 Denmark|}}
{{MedalBronze|2021 Latvia|}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2017 Canada|}}
{{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2015 Switzerland|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Thompson represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded six goals and three assists in ten games. During the 2025 IIHF World Championship final he scored the game-winning overtime goal against Switzerland and helped Team USA win their first gold medal since 1933.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/iihf-world-championship-hockey-2025-final |title=U.S. men’s hockey team wins first standalone world championship since 1933 |website=NBC Sports |first=Nick |last=Zaccardi |date=May 25, 2025 |access-date=May 25, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2025/wm/news/68298/gmg |title=Thompson scores golden goal for U.S. |website=IIHF.com |first=Andrew |last=Podnieks |date=May 25, 2025 |access-date=May 25, 2025}}
Personal life
Thompson's father, Brent Thompson, is a former NHL player and current assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks. At the time Tage was born, Brent was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes organization.{{cite web|last1=Compton|first1=Brian|title=Thompson followed in father's footsteps to NHL with Blues|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-tage-thompson-followed-in-fathers-footsteps-to-nhl/c-291762060|website=NHL.com|publisher=NHL|accessdate=December 11, 2017|location=New York|date=October 9, 2017}} His mother, Kimberly Oliver Thompson, hails from Phoenix, Arizona. His younger brother, Tyce is forward in the New York Islanders farm system.{{cite news|last1=Anthony|first1=Mike|title=UConn's Tage Thompson, Who Has A Sweet Shot, Owes Much To Tough-Guy Dad|url=http://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-tage-brent-thompson-uconn-sound-tigers-1224-20151223-story.html|accessdate=March 29, 2018|publisher=Hartford Courant|date=December 25, 2015}}
Thompson is a Christian.{{cite web |title=Tage Thompson's Testimony |url=https://www.hockeyministries.org/home-ice/videos/tage-thompsons-testimony/ |accessdate=February 21, 2020}} He and his wife have two sons.{{cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/you-want-whats-best-for-him-how-tage-thompsons-wife-helped-fuel-his-sabres-emergence/article_a767f79e-4323-11ed-8de6-bb31955bc43e.html|title='You want what's best for him:' How Tage Thompson's wife helped fuel his Sabres emergence|date=October 12, 2022|agency=The Buffalo News|author=Lysowski, Lance|accessdate=October 14, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012160220/https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/you-want-whats-best-for-him-how-tage-thompsons-wife-helped-fuel-his-sabres-emergence/article_a767f79e-4323-11ed-8de6-bb31955bc43e.html|archivedate=October 12, 2022}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 2013–14
| P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 16U AAA | USPHL | 16 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 8
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2014–15 | USHL | 25 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 20
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014–15
| U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 64 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 32
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2015–16 | HE | 36 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 12
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17
| University of Connecticut | HE | 34 | 19 | 13 | 32 | 24
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | AHL | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2
| 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2017–18
| NHL | 41 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017–18 | AHL | 30 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 4
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19
| NHL | 65 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 20
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2018–19 | AHL | 8 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 4
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019–20
| Rochester Americans | AHL | 16 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 8
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21
| Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 38 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 17
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021–22 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 78 | 38 | 30 | 68 | 37
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23
| Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 78 | 47 | 47 | 94 | 39
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2023–24 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 71 | 29 | 27 | 56 | 43
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024–25
| Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 76 | 44 | 28 | 72 | 35
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 448 !! 176 !! 149 !! 325 !! 203 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||
| 2015
| U18 | {{gold1}} | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017 | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2018
| WC | {{bronze3}} | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021 | United States | WC | {{bronze3}} | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025
| United States | WC | {{gold1}} | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 6 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 14 !! 1 !! 5 !! 6 !! 6 | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Senior totals ! 28 !! 8 !! 9 !! 17 !! 24 |
Awards and honors
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! Ref |
| colspan="3"|College |
|---|
| Hockey East Third All-Star Team
| 2017 | |
| colspan="3"|NHL |
| NHL All-Star Game
| 2023 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before = Robby Fabbri | title = St. Louis Blues first round draft pick | years = 2016 | after = Robert Thomas}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Tage}}
Category:American men's ice hockey centers
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Chicago Wolves players
Category:Ice hockey players from Arizona
Category:Ice hockey players from Connecticut
Category:NHL first-round draft picks
Category:People from Orange, Connecticut
Category:Sportspeople from New Haven County, Connecticut
Category:Rochester Americans players
Category:Sportspeople from Phoenix, Arizona
Category:San Antonio Rampage players
Category:St. Louis Blues draft picks
Category:St. Louis Blues players
Category:UConn Huskies men's ice hockey players
Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players