{{short description|American ice hockey player (born 1997)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Infobox ice hockey biography | name = Tommy Novak | image = 2026-05-10 Deutschland gegen USA (Eishockey-Länderspiel) by Sandro Halank–120.jpg | image_size = | caption = Novak in 2026 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|4|28}} | birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 190 | position = Forward | shoots = Left | league = NHL | team = Pittsburgh Penguins | former_teams = Nashville Predators | draft = 85th overall | draft_year = 2015 | draft_team = Nashville Predators | ntl_team = USA | career_start = 2019 | career_end = }} '''Thomas Novak''' (born April 28, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted with the 85th overall pick by the Nashville Predators in the third round of the 2015 NHL entry draft.
==Early life== Novak was born on April 28, 1997, in Saint Paul, Minnesota,<ref name="EP">{{cite web |title=Tommy Novak |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/248374/tommy-novak |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=March 17, 2023}}</ref> to John and Patti Novak.<ref name="USA bio">{{cite web |title=Tom Novak |url=https://teamusa.usahockey.com/page/show/2721441-tom-novak |publisher=Team USA Hockey |access-date=March 17, 2024}}</ref> Although he was born in Minnesota, Novak was raised in River Falls, Wisconsin.<ref name="rise">{{cite news |last1=Skrbina |first1=Paul |title=The improbable, unnoticed rise of Nashville Predators center Tommy Novak |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2023/11/14/nashville-predators-tommy-novak-center-payday-barry-trotz/71538766007/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=November 14, 2023}}</ref>
==Playing career== [[File:Nashville Predators at Seattle Kraken - 2024-03-16 - Tommy Novak and Ryker Evans (53592701883).jpg|thumb|Novak (left) battling for the puck against Ryker Evans of the Seattle Kraken in 2024.]] After three years of high school hockey at Saint Thomas Academy, Novak joined the Waterloo Black Hawks for the 2014–15 USHL season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2014/08/14/high-school-hockey-tommy-novak-leaving-sta-to-play-in-ushl/|title=High school hockey: Tommy Novak leaving STA to play in USHL|date=August 14, 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yerdon |first=Joe |date=November 27, 2014 |title=Novak lurking on edge of center pool in 2015 Draft |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/novak-lurking-on-edge-of-center-pool-in-2015-draft/c-741094 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307163839/https://www.nhl.com/news/novak-lurking-on-edge-of-center-pool-in-2015-draft/c-741094 |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |website=NHL.com}}</ref> In June 2015, Novak was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the third round of the 2015 NHL entry draft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2015/6/27/8856623/2015-nhl-draft-nashville-predators-select-thomas-novak-85th-overall|title=2015 NHL Draft: Nashville Predators Select Thomas Novak 85th Overall in 3rd Round|work=On the Forecheck |date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630001723/http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2015/6/27/8856623/2015-nhl-draft-nashville-predators-select-thomas-novak-85th-overall |archive-date=June 30, 2015 }}</ref>
Novak played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2015 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Nathan |date=December 3, 2014 |title=Minnesota signs 6 during early signing period |url=https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/12/3/7328749/gophers-hockey-minnesota-early-signing-period-novak-halladay-norman-sheehy-ramsey-sadek |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527071504/https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2014/12/3/7328749/gophers-hockey-minnesota-early-signing-period-novak-halladay-norman-sheehy-ramsey-sadek |archive-date=May 27, 2015 |website=SB Nation College Hockey}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gophersports.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/tommy-novak/15978|title=Tommy Novak – Men's Hockey|website=University of Minnesota Athletics}}</ref>
After his college career, he signed with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) on March 20, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gophersports.com/news/2019/3/20/mens-ice-hockey-novak-signs-ato-with-milwaukee-admirals|title=Novak Signs ATO with Milwaukee Admirals|date=March 20, 2019}}</ref>
Novak was named AHL Rookie of the Month for November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/news/novak-named-ahl-rookie-of-the-month/|title=Novak Named AHL Rookie of the Month|date=December 2, 2019}}</ref>
He signed an entry-level contract with Nashville on March 25, 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/nashville-predators-sign-tommy-novak-to-a-two-year-entry-level-contract/c-316286180|title=Predators Sign Tommy Novak to Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract|website=NHL.com|date=March 25, 2020 }}</ref> and played in his first NHL game on October 19, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2021/10/25/nashville-predators-goalie-connor-ingram-makes-nhl-debut-after-personal-struggles/8500468002/|title=Predators goalie Connor Ingram makes NHL debut after personal struggles|website=The Tennessean }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/game-day-rangers-vs-preds-preview/c-327066004|title=Game Day: Rangers vs. Preds Preview|website=NHL.com|date=October 21, 2021 }}</ref> On December 17, 2021, Novak scored his first NHL goal, against Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Marc-André Fleury in a 3–2 Nashville win.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-chicago-blackhawks-game-recap-329059612|title=Predators push winning streak to seven with OT goal against Blackhawks | NHL.com|date=December 18, 2021|website=www.nhl.com}}</ref>
In July 2022, Novak re-signed with Nashville on a one-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/nashville-predators-sign-tommy-novak-to-one-year-two-way-contract-335021916|title=Predators Sign Tommy Novak to One-Year, Two-Way Contract | Nashville Predators|date=July 18, 2022|website=www.nhl.com}}</ref> On February 8, 2023, he signed a new one-year contract with Nashville.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/nashville-predators-sign-tommy-novak-to-one-year-800-000-contract-340825788|title=Predators Sign Tommy Novak to One-Year, $800,000 Contract | Nashville Predators|date=February 8, 2023|website=www.nhl.com}}</ref> Novak finished the 2022–23 NHL season with 17 goals.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2023/11/nashville-predators-place-tommy-novak-on-ir.html|title=Nashville Predators Place Tommy Novak On IR|date=November 14, 2023|website=Pro Hockey Rumors}}</ref>
On November 14, 2023, Novak was placed on injured reserve with an upperbody injury.<ref name="auto"/> He returned to the line-up on December 7 after missing 11 games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/tommy-novak-on-his-return-to-the-lineup-it-was-a-good-step|title=Tommy Novak on His Return to the Lineup: "It Was a Good Step"|first=Ann|last=Kimmel|date=December 8, 2023|website=The Hockey News}}</ref> On March 4, 2024, the Predators re-signed Novak to a three-year, $10.5 million contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=Predators Sign Tommy Novak to Three-Year, $10.5 Million Contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/predators-sign-tommy-novak-to-three-year-10-5-million-contract |website=NHL.com |access-date=March 14, 2024 |date=March 4, 2024}}</ref>
On March 5, 2025, Novak was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, alongside Luke Schenn, for Michael Bunting and a fourth round draft pick.<ref name="SanJoseNashvilleMarch">{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-trade-michael-bunting-to-nashville-predators-for-luke-schenn-tommy-novak |title=Penguins trade Bunting to Predators for Schenn, Novak, ship Desharnais to Sharks|website=NHL.com |publisher=National Hockey League |date=March 5, 2025 |access-date=March 6, 2025}}</ref> In his second game with Pittsburgh, he suffered a stress fracture in his leg, and missed the remainder of the 2024–25 NHL season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guerriero |first=Justin |title=Tommy Novak proves adept at frequently shifting around Penguins’ lineup |url=https://community.triblive.com/news/3955672 |website=community.triblive.com}}</ref>
==International play== Novak helped lead the United States national under-18 team to a bronze medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leitner |first=Tim |title=Teammates On Same Track To The Top | USA Hockey Magazine |url=http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2015-02/teammates-same-track-top |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323073546/https://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2015-02/teammates-same-track-top |archive-date=March 23, 2015 |website=www.usahockeymagazine.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lastwordonsports.com/2015/05/05/2015-nhl-draft-profile-35-thomas-novak/|title=2015 NHL Draft Profile #35: Thomas Novak|first=Ben|last=Kerr|date=May 5, 2015}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2011–12 | St. Thomas Academy | USHS | 25 || 14 || 20 || 34 || 0 | 6 || 4 || 5 || 9 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2012–13 | St. Thomas Academy | USHS | 25 || 25 || 22 || 47 || 6 | 6 || 3 || 7 || 10 || 0 |- | 2013–14 | St. Thomas Academy | USHS | 25 || 26 || 44 || 70 || 8 | 3 || 4 || 4 || 8 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2013–14 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2014–15 | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | 46 || 14 || 34 || 48 || 12 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 | U. of Minnesota | B1G | 37 || 6 || 21 || 27 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2016–17 | U. of Minnesota | B1G | 20 || 5 || 9 || 14 || 10 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017–18 | U. of Minnesota | B1G | 34 || 3 || 23 || 26 || 8 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2018–19 | U. of Minnesota | B1G | 38 || 4 || 17 || 21 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2019–20 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 60 || 11 || 31 || 42 || 18 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | Florida Everblades | ECHL | 3 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2020–21 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 27 || 8 || 24 || 32 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2021–22 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 42 || 7 || 27 || 34 || 16 | 6 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 2 |- | 2021–22 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 27 || 1 || 6 || 7 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 25 || 11 || 15 || 26 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2022–23 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 51 || 17 || 26 || 43 || 8 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2023–24 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 71 || 18 || 27 || 45 || 8 | 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2024–25 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 52 || 13 || 9 || 22 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2025–26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 82 || 16 || 26 || 42 || 24 | 6 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |NHL totals ! 285 !! 65 !! 94 !! 159 !! 46 ! 12 !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 0 |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2014 | United States | IH18 | {{bronze3}} | 5 || 5 || 6 || 11 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2026 | United States | WC | 8th | 8 || 1 || 7 || 8 || 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 5 !! 5 !! 6 !! 11 !! 2 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Senior totals ! 8 !! 1 !! 7 !! 8 !! 0 |}
==Awards and honors== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ! colspan="3"|USHL |- | CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game | 2014 | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/hockey/news/the-all-american-prospects-game-will-be-loaded-this-year|title=The All-American Prospects Game will be loaded this year|first=Ryan|last=Kennedy|website=The Hockey News on Sports Illustrated}}</ref> |- | All-Rookie Second Team | 2015 | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Novak, Tommy}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Chicago Wolves players Category:Florida Everblades players Category:Ice hockey players from Wisconsin Category:Milwaukee Admirals players Category:Nashville Predators draft picks Category:Nashville Predators players Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players Category:People from River Falls, Wisconsin Category:Sportspeople from St. Croix County, Wisconsin Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players Category:Waterloo Black Hawks players