Tage Thompson has been a force for the Buffalo Sabres this NHL season - a towering presence with soft hands, a lethal shot, and the kind of offensive instincts that make him a matchup nightmare. But so far at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Team USA hasn’t exactly rolled out the red carpet for him.
In Saturday’s 6-3 win over Denmark, Thompson logged the least ice time of any American skater. That’s right - the guy who’s been torching NHL defenses all season was stapled to the bench more than anyone else wearing red, white, and blue.
And it wasn’t just a one-off situation. Thompson, along with Kyle Connor and Dylan Larkin, was effectively deployed as the fourth line in this one.
Heading into the tournament, that trio was expected to be the third line - a unit with speed, skill, and scoring punch. But against Denmark, they were clearly slotted further down the pecking order.
Now, to be fair, the Brock Nelson line has looked sharp. There’s been real chemistry there, and in a short tournament like the Olympics, coaches lean into what’s working.
That’s understandable. But this goes deeper than line combinations - this is about maximizing one of your most dynamic offensive weapons.
Here’s the twist: despite the limited even-strength usage, Thompson is still anchoring the top power play unit. So it’s clear the coaching staff sees his value.
They trust him in high-leverage, man-advantage situations. That alone tells you he’s not in the doghouse - far from it.
Which makes it all the more puzzling why he’s not getting more run at 5-on-5. Thompson has been strong at even strength all season in Buffalo. He’s not just a power play specialist - he’s a full-ice contributor who can tilt the game in your favor with a single shift.
There’s still plenty of hockey left in this tournament, starting with Sunday’s group stage finale against Germany. And if the U.S. wants to make a serious push for gold, they’ll need to get the most out of their top-tier talent.
That means finding more ice time for Tage Thompson. Because when he’s on the ice, good things tend to follow.