The recent six-game suspension handed down by the NHL Department of Player Safety to Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has once again put a spotlight on his on-ice behavior. The suspension came as a result of a high stick to the head of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor during a game on Wednesday night. This marks the sixth suspension of Wilson’s career and his first since 2021. The incident occurred when Wilson, backchecking, checked Gregor against the boards in an attempt to force a turnover. Unfortunately, the follow-through of Wilson’s stick ended up striking Gregor in the face, leading to the disciplinary action.
In its ruling, the NHL Player Safety department described Wilson’s actions as extremely reckless and highlighted that he was solely in control of his actions throughout the play. While acknowledging that Wilson did not intend to strike Gregor in the face, the department emphasized that Wilson’s stick was drawn back in a forceful and reckless manner before making contact with his opponent. The ruling also pointed out that Wilson’s behavior was irresponsible and not related to any legitimate hockey action, holding him accountable for the dangerous outcome of the play.
Wilson’s history of disciplinary actions was also brought up in the ruling, with his most recent suspension in 2021 being seven games for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo. This suspension marked the second-longest of Wilson’s career, with the longest being a 20-game suspension during the 2018-19 preseason for an illegal hit to the head of Oskar Sundqvist. At the time of this incident, Wilson had already accrued four suspensions in 105 games, indicating a pattern of behavior that has led to significant consequences.
The six-game suspension means that the Washington Capitals will be without one of their key players as they fight to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Wilson’s absence will be felt, given his contributions of 17 goals and 32 points in 66 games for the team. The Capitals are currently just three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final wild-card spot in the East, with Wilson’s suspension potentially hindering their efforts as they face stiff competition from other teams like the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres. Wilson will miss the upcoming game against the Red Wings and is expected to return to the lineup on April 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Overall, Wilson’s suspension serves as a reminder of the importance of player safety and the consequences of reckless actions on the ice. It also raises questions about the role of discipline in deterring similar incidents in the future. As the Capitals adjust to playing without Wilson, they will need to rely on their depth and teamwork to make up for his absence and continue their push for a playoff spot in a competitive Eastern Conference.
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