Tage Thompson’s Olympic Role May Be Smaller - But Still Significant - for Team USA
Tage Thompson is once again putting together a strong season in Buffalo, racking up 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists) through 57 games. He’s been the engine of the Sabres’ offense, logging top-line minutes and anchoring their top power-play unit. But when it comes to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Thompson’s role with Team USA looks like it’s going to shift - and not in the direction he’s used to.
According to early lineup projections, Thompson is expected to start the tournament on the third line alongside Dylan Larkin (Red Wings) and Kyle Connor (Jets). That’s a far cry from the featured role he’s accustomed to in Buffalo, and it raises some important questions about how the 6-foot-6 forward will adapt when he’s not the focal point of the offense.
For starters, less 5-on-5 ice time means fewer chances to create the kind of high-danger scoring opportunities he thrives on. And while he’s a weapon on the power play in the NHL, it’s still unclear how involved he’ll be with the man advantage on a U.S. squad that’s loaded with offensive talent. That uncertainty has sparked some debate about whether Thompson is being put in the best position to succeed.
“Tage Thompson is a flier here,” said Mike Cranwell of The Fourth Period. “They didn’t bring him for his defense or all the giveaways, so you have to play him in a spot where he’s set up for success.” Cranwell even floated the idea of pairing Thompson with Auston Matthews, noting their offensive similarities - but also acknowledging the high-risk, high-reward nature of such a move.
Right now, Matthews is expected to skate with Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy in the top six, which leaves Thompson in more of a complementary role - something he hasn’t done much of since his early days in the league. Even at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he scored the overtime winner in the gold medal game against Switzerland, Thompson was logging significant minutes and playing a central role. He finished that tournament with nine points (six goals, three assists) in 10 games, showing he can produce on the international stage when given the opportunity.
But this Olympic roster is stacked. And when you’re surrounded by elite two-way forwards, the coaching staff isn’t likely to lean on Thompson’s line for heavy defensive assignments. That means fewer shifts, more neutral- or offensive-zone starts, and a more specialized role.
There’s a silver lining, though. In Buffalo, Thompson is often asked to carry the puck through multiple zones and create offense almost single-handedly - a responsibility that can lead to high turnover numbers. On a line with someone like Larkin, who can share puck-handling duties and push the pace, Thompson may be freed up to focus more on finishing plays rather than starting them.
The key for Thompson will be efficiency. With fewer minutes, every shift matters.
He’ll need to play a more direct, simplified game - one that limits turnovers and maximizes scoring chances when they come. That’s a different kind of challenge than what he faces in Buffalo, but it’s one that could elevate his game if he embraces it.
And let’s not forget: line combinations are rarely set in stone during a tournament like this. If Thompson makes the most of his minutes and proves he can be a difference-maker in a limited role, there’s every chance he could earn a bigger spot in the lineup when the knockout rounds begin.
So while this may not be the headline role Sabres fans are used to seeing, it’s far from insignificant. For Team USA, Thompson’s size, shot, and scoring instincts still make him a dangerous weapon - even if he’s coming from deeper in the lineup.