Thompson, a center, joined the sixth team of his NHL career when he and defenseman Dion Phaneuf acquired by the Los Angeles Kings in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for forwards Marian Gaborik and Nick Shore on Feb. 13, 2018. A sixth-round pick (No. 183) by the Boston Bruins in the 2003 NHL Draft, Thompson has played for the Bruins, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Senators and Kings.

Thompson began his major junior hockey career with Seattle of the Western Hockey League in 2001-02. He was drafted by the Bruins after his second season, but remained with Seattle for two more seasons. He joined Providence of the American Hockey League for the 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs.

After signing an entry-level contract with Boston on July 20, 2005, Thompson spent the next three seasons with the Bruins organization before he was claimed off waivers by the Islanders on Oct. 8, 2008. He scored his first NHL goal against New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist on Nov. 4, 2008, and spent two seasons with the Islanders before being claimed by the Lightning on Jan. 21, 2010. He played for Alaska of the ECHL during the NHL lockout in 2012-13 before returning to Tampa Bay and signing a four-year contract on March 3, 2013. He finished the shortened season with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 45 games.

The following season, Thompson had 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in an NHL career high 81 games, but was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for two picks in the 2015 NHL Draft on June 29, 2014.

After three seasons in Anaheim, Thompson signed a two-year contract with the Senators and was reunited with coach Guy Boucher, who had coached him with the Lightning. He appeared in 43 games before being traded to the Kings.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Claimed on waivers by NY Islanders from Boston, October 8, 2008.
• Claimed on waivers by Tampa Bay from NY Islanders, January 21, 2010.
• Signed as a free agent by Alaska (ECHL), September 28, 2012.
• Traded to Anaheim by Tampa Bay for Anaheim's 4th (Jonne Tammela) and 7th (later traded to Edmonton -- Edmonton selected Miroslav Svoboda) round picks in 2015 NHL Draft, June 29, 2014.
• Signed as a free agent by Ottawa, July 1, 2017.
• Traded to Los Angeles by Ottawa with Dion Phaneuf for Marian Gaborik and Nick Shore, February 13, 2018.
• Traded to Montreal by Los Angeles with Arizona's 5th-round pick in 2019 NHL Draft (previously acquired) for Calgary's 4th-round pick in 2019 NHL Draft (previously acquired), February 11, 2019.