Canadiens Thompson trying to adapt to changing NHL
Nate Thompson with the Montreal Canadiens. Credit: Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images For Canadiens centre Nate Thompson, change is a thing he’s had to get used to. Since being drafted in the 6 th round of the 2003 NHL entry draft by the Boston Bruins, he’s seen himself play for 7 different clubs, across nearly 700 NHL games, settling into a role as a tough, hard working, bottom six centre, lacking in speed, but making up for it with grit and tenacity. “This is my 17th or 18th training camp, so it’s getting up there.” Thompson said in an interview with the Montreal Gazette. “I think I was 18, I was with Boston. There were guys like Sandy McCarthy, P.J. Stock. Joe Thornton was in Boston at the time. I actually played on a line with Sandy McCarthy and P.J. Stock, so safe to say I was pretty safe.” As with many veteran bottoms six players, Thompson has seen witness to the changes the NHL has gone through in the on-ice product, specifically with players like him.