Tage Thompson wants a spot on the Team USA roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. He's made that clear across multiple interviews this summer. The dynamic forward stated his Olympic dream doesn't supersede the Buffalo Sabres' playoff push, though.
Buffalo is riding a 14-year postseason drought, which is the longest streak in NHL history, and the two-time 40-goal scorer wants to focus on bringing playoff hockey back to the 716, though he admits the Winter Games will be in the back of his mind during the 2025-26 season.
"It definitely will be there. It's hard not to think about it," Thompson told Michael Russo of The Athletic. "But when we get into the grind of the season, not that you forget about it, but it definitely maybe goes to the subconscious or the back of your brain a little bit. Like, I want to be an Olympian, but getting the Sabres back into the playoffs is always at the forefront."
Making the U.S. Olympic roster and getting Buffalo back to the postseason in the same year would be quite an accomplishment for the 27-year-old Arizona native.
Thompson proves his worth to Team USA
Thompson shook off the disappointment of being left off the 4 Nations Face-Off team — he was later added as an emergency injury replacement but did not play in the tournament — by playing a key role for the U.S. at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.
The 6-foot-6 forward scored nine points (six goals and three assists) in 10 games. His most important contribution was the tournament's final play as he ripped an overtime winner past Switzerland goalie Leonardo Genoni in the final to capture the gold medal for the United States.
Although it was a defining moment in his career, the 2016 first-round pick knows it's not enough to guarantee him a place on the Olympic squad.
"You never know, right? I would hope scoring that goal would make a difference, but it's also one play. It doesn't define me as a player or mean that I had a great tournament or anything by that means," Thompson told Russo. "It's one of those things that was an awesome moment and something that I'll remember forever, but at the same time, I don't believe it solidifies me."
The 2023 NHL All-Star previously helped Team USA win gold medals at the 2015 U-18 World Championship and the 2017 World Junior Championship.
All-Star's NHL track record in Buffalo
Four years ago, Thompson arrived to Sabres training camp with the bust label being floated around. He'd scored just 35 points in 145 games through four NHL seasons as he'd yet to translate his enticing combination of size, speed and a lethal shot into actual production.
Then something finally clicked for the UConn product.
Thompson tallied 38 goals in 78 contests in 2021-22 and he hasn't stopped scoring ever since. He's posted 290 points over the last four years, and his 158 goals over that span is tied for the NHL's 10th-highest total.
He's found success playing both center and wing for Buffalo, and that versatility could prove valuable when Team USA starts making its final Olympic roster decisions.
What to expect from Thompson in 2025-26
Tage is going to enter the campaign incredibly motivated. He finished last season playing great hockey for the Sabres and parlayed it into a strong tournament with the American World Championship squad.
The former St. Louis Blues prospect is going to do everything in his power to make sure he's on that plane to Italy in February. He's deserving, but the U.S. talent pool is so deep there are no guarantees, especially if he gets off to a sluggish start.
In turn, Buffalo should see the best version of Thompson this season. It wouldn't be a shock to see him make a serious push toward hitting the 50-goal milestone, and the team may need that extra offense following the trade of high-scoring winger JJ Peterka over the summer.
Ultimately, there's probably a better chance of Tage making Team USA than the Sabres making the playoffs, but both things happening is in the realm of possibility.