Tommy Novak Explained

Tommy Novak
Birth Date:28 April 1997
Birth Place:Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:191
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Nashville Predators
Prospect League:AHL
Draft:85th overall
Draft Team:Nashville Predators
Draft Year:2015
Career Start:2019

Tommy Novak (born April 28, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted with the 85th overall pick by the Predators in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life

Novak was born on April 28, 1997, in Saint Paul, Minnesota,[1] to John and Pat Novak.[2] Although he was born in Minnesota, Novak was raised in River Falls, Wisconsin.[3]

Playing career

After three years of high school hockey at Saint Thomas Academy, Novak joined the Waterloo Black Hawks for the 2014–15 USHL season.[4] Novak's outstanding play with the Black Hawks was rewarded when he was invited to skate in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.[5]

Novak played the 2015–16 season with the University of Minnesota.[6] After his college career, he signed a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2019. He signed an entry-level contract with Nashville on March 25, 2020,[7] and played in his first NHL game on October 19, 2021.[8] [9]

On March 4, 2024, the Predators re-signed Novak to a three-year, $10.5 million contract.[10]

International play

Novak helped lead the United States national under-18 team to a bronze medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament,[11] and he recorded seven points in four games as a member of the United States national junior team at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2011–12St. Thomas AcademyUSHS25 14 20 34 06 4 5 9 2
2012–13St. Thomas AcademyUSHS25 25 22 47 66 3 7 10 0
2013–14St. Thomas AcademyUSHS25 26 44 70 83 4 4 8 2
2013–14U.S. National Development TeamUSHL2 0 0 0 0
2014–15Waterloo Black HawksUSHL46 14 34 48 12
2015–16U. of MinnesotaB1G37 6 21 27 4
2016–17U. of MinnesotaB1G20 5 9 14 10
2017–18U. of MinnesotaB1G34 3 23 26 8
2018–19U. of MinnesotaB1G38 4 17 21 4
2018–19Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL3 0 1 1 01 0 0 0 0
2019–20Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL60 11 31 42 18
2020–21Florida EverbladesECHL3 1 2 3 0
2020–21Chicago WolvesAHL27 8 24 32 4
2021–22Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL42 7 27 34 166 1 5 6 2
2021–22Nashville PredatorsNHL27 1 6 7 2
2022–23Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL25 11 15 26 2
2022–23Nashville PredatorsNHL51 17 26 43 8
2023–24Nashville PredatorsNHL71 18 27 45 86 0 0 0 0
NHL totals149 36 59 95 186 0 0 0 0

International

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
USHL
CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game2014[13]
All-Rookie Second Team2015
International
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament bronze medal2014[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tommy Novak . Elite Prospects . March 17, 2023.
  2. Web site: Tom Novak . Team USA Hockey . March 17, 2024.
  3. News: Skrbina . Paul . The improbable, unnoticed rise of Nashville Predators center Tommy Novak . March 17, 2024 . . November 14, 2023.
  4. Web site: High school hockey: Tommy Novak leaving STA to play in USHL. August 14, 2014.
  5. Web site: Novak lurking on edge of center pool in 2015 Draft. NHL.com.
  6. Web site: Minnesota signs 6 during early signing period. Nathan. Wells. December 3, 2014. SB Nation College Hockey.
  7. Web site: Predators Sign Tommy Novak to Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract. NHL.com.
  8. Web site: Predators goalie Connor Ingram makes NHL debut after personal struggles. .
  9. Web site: Game Day: Rangers vs. Preds Preview. NHL.com.
  10. Web site: Predators Sign Tommy Novak to Three-Year, $10.5 Million Contract . NHL.com . March 14, 2024 . March 4, 2024.
  11. Web site: Teammates On Same Track To The Top | USA Hockey Magazine. www.usahockeymagazine.com.
  12. Web site: 2015 NHL Draft Profile #35: Thomas Novak. Ben. Kerr. May 5, 2015.
  13. Web site: The All-American Prospects Game will be loaded this year. Ryan. Kennedy. The Hockey News on Sports Illustrated.
  14. Web site: Hlinka Gretzky Cup ». eSports cz. s.r.o. Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup official website.