COLUMBUS – In the NHL, Tage Thompson is the Buffalo Sabres’ No. 1 center and most dynamic offensive threat, having scored 178 goals since the start of the 2021-22 season.
But on Team USA’s Olympic entry at the upcoming Milano Cortina Games, which Thompson, 28, was named to on Friday, what kind of role could he be cast in? Third-line winger? Fourth-line grinder?
Thompson, whose surging Sabres carry a 10-game win streak into Saturday afternoon’s game against the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, will embrace any task he’s given.
“Whatever they need, whatever the role,” Thompson told reporters following Friday’s practice in McKinney, Texas. “Obviously, it’s a team full of talent. I think just being able to be versatile, whatever role they need me in, I’ll try to do it to the best of my ability.”
Thompson is one three Sabres who will be representing their respective countries next month in Italy. On Friday, goalie Ukko-Pekka earned a spot on Team Finland’s roster. In June, captain Rasmus Dahlin was named to Team Sweden’s roster.
“I think it’s awesome that all three of those guys get to represent their country and have a chance to play for gold,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reports. “It’s really going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Ruff enjoyed that opportunity twice, serving as an assistant coach for Team Canada’s gold medal-winning squads in 2010 and 2014.
“It’s a huge thing, a huge honor,” said Luukkonen, who’s expected to make his third consecutive start Saturday afternoon as the Sabres try to set a franchise record for longest win streak. “It’s kind of what everybody dreams of as a hockey player, to get to represent your country in an Olympics. It’s a dream come true.”
Thompson said a while ago he set the Olympics as a “big goal.”
“I think any time you get to represent your country, it’s an honor, a special feeling,” he told reporters.
When Team USA left Thompson off its roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago, the snub fueled him.
Over the final 36 games of the season, he scored an NHL-high 25 goals. He carried that dynamic scoring prowess into the World Championship in Europe, where his overtime goal clinched the Americans’ first gold medal at the tournament in 92 years.
Thompson seemed like a safe bet crack Team USA’s Olympic roster, and his strong first half – he has scored 20 goals and 37 points, both team highs, in 40 games – only strengthened his push for a spot.
Entering Friday’s schedule, Thompson’s 20 goals ranked 17th in the NHL and fifth among American-born players. Among Americans, only Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews has scored more goals than him in the last five seasons.
“He’s 6-foot-6 and can skate like the wind,” Team USA general manager Bill Guerin said of Thompson on a Zoom call Friday. “He’s got an incredible shot, scoring ability, he’s got versatility as well. He can play center, play wing, kill penalties, he’s on the power play. The versatility, size and skill level are a pretty unique package.”
In addition to representing Team USA three times at the World Championship, he has played for his country in other tournaments, including the World Junior Championship.
He joined the US at the 4 Nations Face-Off as an injury replacement at the end of the tournament, although he did not play.
Sabres winger Alex Tuch, who attended a Team USA Olympic orientation camp with Thompson in the summer, did not make the roster.
The men’s ice hockey schedule runs from Feb. 11 to 22 in Milan.
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Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring missed Friday’s practice with a lower-body injury, Ruff told reporters. Ruff did not rule Kesselring out of Saturday afternoon’s game.
Kesselring, who was sidelined by two injuries earlier this season, did not play in the final minutes of Wednesday’s 4-1 win against the Dallas Stars.