It’s not every year that a player finds himself at the heart of both a historic international triumph and the burden of a franchise’s playoff drought. Yet for Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson, the past twelve months have been a whirlwind of personal achievement, emotional growth, and renewed ambition—on the world stage and back home in Buffalo.
Thompson, still just 28, etched his name into American hockey lore at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. With nerves of steel and a nose for the net, he scored the golden goal that ended the United States’ 92-year wait for World Championship gold, delivering their first title since 1933. That tournament proved to be a defining moment not only for the nation, but for Thompson himself, who tallied nine points in ten games and shouldered the weight of expectation with a maturity that impressed teammates, coaches, and his own family alike.
"I think just what it takes to win," Thompson said when reflecting on his experience. "I think probably the biggest thing I took out of it was the mindset. It’s a short tournament, so it’s kind of that desperation mode right from the beginning. But being able to balance that without having any panic in your game."
That calm under pressure was tested early in the World Championship, after the U.S. stumbled to a 3-0 defeat against Switzerland in just their third game. But Thompson and his squad didn’t flinch. "We were put in a do-or-die situation early on in the tournament, but I felt like there was no panic; there was just belief throughout our group that we were going to get it done. And I think that calmness in the locker room was something that I found very instrumental in our win and it’s something I think we’re going to try to correlate and bring here into Buffalo."
That’s easier said than done. The Sabres, after all, have been mired in a playoff drought that now stretches back to the 2010-11 season. If they fall short again this year, it’ll mark 15 straight seasons without postseason hockey—a streak that’s weighed heavily on the team, the city, and its fiercely loyal fanbase. The pressure is palpable, but there’s also a sense of opportunity.
"I think obviously there’s some stress and some pressure when you’re in a situation like we are, but I think it’s an opportunity, you can look at it as an opportunity to do something special," Thompson shared. "And I think that’s what we’ve got to embrace is that journey and that grind and enjoy it and have fun with it."
Buffalo entered the 2025-26 NHL season with high hopes—if not outright expectations—to finally break through. But the campaign began with a thud: three consecutive losses, the same old doubts creeping in among fans and pundits. The Sabres were outscored and outplayed, their resolve tested right out of the gate. Déjà vu, anyone?
Yet, just as Thompson and Team USA had done months earlier, the Sabres found a way to steady themselves. They erupted for an 8-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators on October 15, then shut out the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 3-0 on October 18. Suddenly, the narrative shifted. The Sabres, now 2-3-0, have clawed their way back into the conversation, and with a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens looming at Bell Centre, there’s a chance to even their record and build real momentum.
Thompson’s role in this turnaround can’t be overstated. After a slow start to his NHL career, the power forward has blossomed into one of the league’s elite goal scorers. Last season, he notched 44 goals—his second campaign surpassing the 40-goal plateau. Through five games this year, he’s contributed a goal and three assists, totaling four points, and he’s made it clear that his sights are set even higher. Approaching the 50-goal mark isn’t out of the question, and if anyone on this Sabres roster can drag the team out of its long postseason exile, it’s Thompson.
But it’s not just about the numbers. Thompson’s growth as a leader and his ability to handle adversity have become as important as his production on the ice. Brent Thompson, Tage’s father and an assistant coach with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, has watched his son’s evolution closely. "Not only at World Championships, but every year that he’s been playing, he’s matured a little bit and I do believe that the World Championships gave him a little bit more experience in handling, whether it was adversity, whether a tough call, whether a situation that happens on the ice, and how to be patient," Brent Thompson said. "I got to see him mature in front of me, and I do think that’s a big thing. He was very positive, I thought, at the World Championships, no matter what happened through the course of the [tournament] itself, I felt like he kept a pretty level head and a positive outlook on it and I think that’s one of the biggest things he has to continue to focus on."
There’s a certain poetic symmetry to Thompson’s journey. After being left off the U.S. roster for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, he responded by seizing the moment at the World Championship and now has a legitimate shot at making the squad for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. That sense of vindication, of proving doubters wrong, seems to fuel him—just as it fuels the Sabres’ quest to change their own narrative.
Of course, the NHL season is long, and the Sabres’ margin for error remains razor-thin. Through five games, they’ve been outscored 14-13, and the ghosts of seasons past are never far from the surface. But with Thompson leading by example, both on the scoresheet and in the locker room, there’s a renewed sense of belief in Buffalo. The lessons learned on the international stage—resilience under pressure, calm in the face of adversity, and the power of collective belief—are being put to the test once more.
As the Sabres prepare to face the Canadiens in Montreal, the stakes feel higher than ever. Will this be the year Buffalo finally ends its playoff drought? The answer remains to be seen. But one thing’s for certain: with Tage Thompson at the helm, the Sabres are determined to write a new chapter—one fueled by hard-earned lessons, unwavering belief, and a hunger for something truly special.
