Tage Thompson’s Case to Make the US Olympic Team in 2026

With the news that Sabres’ captain and veteran defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is headed to the 2026 Winter Olympics with Team Sweden, one other Buffalo player is getting looks as a possible candidate for his country’s Olympic hockey team, Tage Thompson.

Despite the Blue and Gold missing the NHL Playoffs for the 14th straight season, TNT enjoyed his second best career campaign in 2024-25, with 44 goals, 28 assists and 72 total points. Thompson only surpassed these numbers in 2022-23, when his stats were 47-47-94, respectively.

However, No. 72 did the most the make his case for an Olympic spot not in the NHL, but at the IIHF World Championship last month in Stockholm. With the United States facing Switzerland for the Men’s World Championship title, Thompson scored the game-winning goal just a little over two minutes into overtime to give the U.S. its first gold medal at the event since 1933.

That wasn’t the only goal Thompson netted during the tournament. TNT had 9 points (6 goals and 3 assists) and a plus-seven ranking through 10 tournament games. He also led all players with 46 shots on goal, while Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon was second with 36.

Switzerland went 11 straight periods without allowing a goal during the World Championship, until Thompson finally got one past Swiss goalie Leonardo Genoni, with assists from Logan Cooley and Brady Skjei.

Thompson felt snubbed by not being chosen to compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off back in February and he told TSN that was his main reason for playing his best at the World Championship, hoping it leads to an Olympic hockey invite.

“Not being on the 4 Nations team was a big piece of my motivation. I thought this was a good opportunity to make a statement and put my hat in the ring for the Olympic team. Playing for that team is something I always dreamt about doing and that was part of the decision for going (to the World Championship)", he said.

Based on Thompson’s performance, he’s proven he has the hockey skills to represent the United States in the 2026 Winter Olympics this coming February. Hopefully the decision makers who pick Team USA’s players won’t pass him over the way the 4 Nations Face-Off managers did.