Tommy Novak
Born	(1997-04-28) April 28, 1997 (age 27) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Nashville Predators
NHL draft	85th overall, 2015 Nashville Predators
Playing career	2019–present

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 season					Playoffs
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
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
2013–14	U.S. National Development Team	USHL	2	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL	46	14	34	48	12	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	U. of Minnesota	B1G	37	6	21	27	4	—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	U. of Minnesota	B1G	20	5	9	14	10	—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	U. of Minnesota	B1G	34	3	23	26	8	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	U. of Minnesota	B1G	38	4	17	21	4	—	—	—	—	—
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	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Florida Everblades	ECHL	3	1	2	3	0	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Chicago Wolves	AHL	27	8	24	32	4	—	—	—	—	—
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	—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL	25	11	15	26	2	—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Nashville Predators	NHL	51	17	26	43	8	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			78	18	32	50	10	—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	United States	IH18			5	5	6	11	2
Junior totals					5	5	6	11	2

Awards and honors

Award	Year	Ref
USHL
CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game	2014	^[13]
All-Rookie Second Team	2015
International
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament bronze medal	2014	^[14]