In a surprising move, the Buffalo Sabres announced on Twitter that forward Tage Thompson had been assigned to the non-roster list due to personal reasons.
The Sabres' official tweet stated,
"Tage Thompson has been assigned to the non-roster list (personal)."
When a player is placed on the non-roster list, it means that they are unavailable for reasons other than injury or illness and there is usually no set timeline for their return. As with the Injured Reserve, these players can be replaced.
Almost immediately, the hockey community began buzzing with varied reactions. One concerned fan lamented,
"Season's over."
However, another fan quickly chimed in with reassurance, sharing information about Thompson's personal circumstances:
"Y'all he's fine; his wife is having a child."
Further insights emerged from another fan who speculated,
"They had to make a 'roster move' to get Girgensons back from IR, and Tage is getting a couple of days off with his newborn."
The Sabres' decision to place Thompson on non-roster reserve was met with both understanding and curiosity from fans. The unexpected absence of a key player like Thompson prompted discussions about the team's lineup adjustments.
Notably, Thompson's late scratch in the previous game led to Tyson Jost taking his place, with Casey Mittelstadt eventually joining the top line between Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner.
Thompson's absence comes at a time when he had been making a significant impact on the ice, registering nine goals and 19 points in 26 games this season. In the previous season, he managed 47 goals and 94 points in 78 contests.
Who is Tage Thompson's wife? All we know about his partner, Rachel
NHL star Tage Thompson is married to Rachel Thompson, whom he first met at a Halloween party in 2016. The couple began dating and, despite the challenges of a long-distance relationship due to Tage's hockey career, Rachel joined him after graduating in 2019.
After four years of dating, the couple got engaged on June 6, 2020. They wed at Saltwater Farm Vineyard on July 25, 2021, attended by family and friends.
The duo celebrated another joyous milestone with the birth of their first child, a son named Brooks Nathaniel Thompson, on July 6, 2022.
Tage shared the news on Instagram, with the caption,
"Welcome to the world baby boy."