Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff isn’t exactly sure when Tage Thompson will return after helping Team USA win gold on the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Team USA edged out Team Canada 2-1 in additional time in a tightly contested game.
With the gold medal victory, Team USA snapped a 46-year title drought. The previous American team to succeed in the highest of the rostrum was the famed 1980 “Miracle on Ice” squad.
Ruff isn’t rushing Thompson back into the lineup after his gold medal run with Team USA, and he admits the celebrations could delay his return.
The Buffalo head coach spoke to reporters on Monday and joked that he was unsure any of the American players could be able to play this week in any case the celebrations.
“I do not know if any of the U.S. guys will give you the chance to play this week,” Ruff said in a lighthearted tone following Monday’s practice. “Obviously, we’ll see. He was presupposed to get back into the country last night, so we’ll discover when he’s hopefully available to play.”
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After the sport, United States President Donald Trump phoned the locker room to ask the players to Tuesday night’s State of the Union address. He also told them they were welcome to stay in Washington for a White House visit on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the victory carried extra weight for Thompson. After being left off the 4 Nations Face-Off roster a yr ago, he earned his place on Team USA’s Olympic squad and finished with three goals and an assist in six games on the Milano Cortina Games.
With the Olympic break now over, Ruff knows just how necessary Thompson is to the Sabres as they struggle to finish a 14-season playoff drought. Thompson has been considered one of the team’s most efficient players this season.
Through 57 games, the 28-year-old has 30 goals and 29 assists. After the break, his season total stands at 59 points.
The Buffalo Sabres are 32-19-6 and sit fourth within the Atlantic Division behind the Detroit Red Wings. They currently hold the highest wild-card spot within the Eastern Conference and can return to motion against the Latest Jersey Devils on Wednesday.