The decision is in, and the Department of Player Safety has suspended Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for three games, following his hit on Zach Aston-Reese last night. Aston-Reese suffered a concussion and broken jaw on the play, while Wilson was not penalized.
In the video from the league explaining the suspension, there were three factors that led to the ban. One was the hit to the head (and that head contact could have been avoided), another was Wilson’s history, while Aston-Reese’s injury also played a role. That last one is particularly interesting as teams don’t often release detailed information about injuries in the postseason so that typically doesn’t come into play.
Wilson has walked a fine line for some of his hits and while he has had quite a few hearings with the league, he hasn’t been banned with regularity. This is his third career suspension (but one of those came in the preseason). This postseason, he has already been under scrutiny a couple of times, one for a hit on Alexander Wennberg of the Blue Jackets and one for a hit on Brian Dumoulin in Game Two of this series.
The Caps lead the best-of-seven matchup two games to one with the next contest set for Thursday night. Wilson will be eligible to return for a potential seventh game of the series if it makes it that far (or will have to miss the opener of the next round if Washington wins the next two).
bbird216
Excessive. 1 game yes. 3 too many.
jdgoat
Agreed. The hit didn’t even seem bad. Unfortunate outcome, but not a terrible hit. I don’t think you can even argue the head was the principle point of contact without a doubt
TJECK109
There were multiple penalties that could have been called on that play starting with charging. Wilson never had any intent on playing the puck or making a hockey play. He left his feet to make the hit. I have more of an issue with the pure fact that it was obvious that the only thing on Wilson’s mind was trying to hurt a guy than making a play for the puck. I believe it was shoulder first. 3 games too much, don’t they believe in 2 game penalties?
jdgoat
I honestly don’t think he left his feet before the hit though. I’m not a fan of Wilson, but I believe he was screwed on this one. And guys like him always throw the hit there, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t think they should have to try and play the puck or stick check just because, his job is to take the body in that play
ThePriceWasRight
he does launch and clearly targets. the replay shows him leaving his feet.
finally believe the player safety department got it right.
dcrising
Words of a butt-hurt Pens fan. The Player Safety Department in the NHL will always be a joke when fighting is allowed. If a guy lays a clean left hook to the jaw and breaks it, will he get the same fine? Answer is no; he’d get applauded.
ThePriceWasRight
I’m not a pens fan in the least but yes there is certainly hypocrisy in how the league deals with these things. but there is a clear rule of not leaving your feet to make a hit and contact to the head on a hit will be reviewed. both boes checked off here so honey somewhere else.
dcrising
Replay actually shows him leaving his feet after the initial contact, which is more related to following through on the hit. Replay also shows initial contact was shoulder to shoulder. He does hit the head, but it’s not initial contact point.
diller79
Since when did the NHL turn soft. This is something I’d except from the NBA. Smh
yournotascout
Couldn’t agree more.
ThePriceWasRight
when concussions became a more seriously known issue. and sports in general are still behind in this regard.
Groggydogs
This judge and jury must live in Pittsburgh. 3 games is unheard of in the playoffs. Can he appeal?
TJECK109
Kadri got 3 games
ThePriceWasRight
he can appeal if the union backs him
Nobby
Should have been banned for rest of post season.
diller79
Your watching the wrong sport if that’s your opinion buddy
dugdog83
I agree with you on this one diller
bapthemailman
I’m with you, Nobby. Also, Should have been called for a major penalty and game misconduct. No room in the league for a dirty player like Wilson. Too bad the Pens let Reaves go. He would have knocked the smile right off Wilson’s face.
diller79
What are you talking about????? The NHl is the league where being a dirty player is encouraged
tylerall5
Obviously it’s not. Reason one, bad hits like this one is continuously punished. Reason two, it’s getting harder and harder for guys who are “goons” or “dirty” to find a job as the league looks to a younger and more finesse/skill players. To suggest that being dirty is encouraged is absurd.
ThePriceWasRight
being dirty isn’t encouraged bit not always punished. dirty players can still have talent (see marchand). fighters, enforcers and less talented are what is slowly being phased out.
IBackTheNats6
Honestly this hit was perfectly legal, but even if it wasn’t this should be 1 game max. Ridiculous decision
ThePriceWasRight
unfortunately being a homer has made you blind. he targets, launches into the hit. that’s a penalty and now it results in a major injury, that’s suspendable.
Robertowannabe
First contact was to the jaw. Drove through the jaw. You could see a visible,change in his motion towards the bench when he realized he could light up Aston-Reese. Clear intent to launch into the player.
ThePriceWasRight
bingo.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
It’s not “legal” to hit players in the head. And you can’t break a guys jaw without hitting him in the head.
You understand this, right?
vegasloveforthebills
Being his 3rd suspension this year, h should be lucky it’s only 3 games.
And yes he does leave his feet. Which is why he ends up sitting on the boards after the hit.
TheodoreRex45
he leaves his feet AFTER the hit per physics. Ashton-Reece is not a pillow, when you collide with another human at speed, your energy has to go somewhere, and through another person is physically impossible.
bob67wo
Once again cry baby Mario gets his way with the league office. Doesn’t it get old as a pitt fan always playing the victim?
phantomofdb
Its fascinating to me how many people on this site are defending Wilson. He took a player out of a game with a shot to the head two games in a row…
He was given the benefit of the doubt the first time (though he certainly hasnt earned that in his career) but when it happened even worse and more blatantly the very next game, the league pretty much had to do something. it was a farce that he wasnt penalized on the ice either time
jdgoat
Again, I don’t see the head as the principle point of contact.
Doc Halladay
There’s an angle from behind the bench that shows pretty clear evidence that Wilson targeted the head. As he’s initially going into Aston-Reece, he’s leading with his dominant shoulder(right shoulder) but then completely changes course before contact to lead with with his left shoulder, which changes the hit from being shoulder to shoulder to being shoulder to jaw. Had he not changed course, he never would have been suspended.
I saw the Sportsnet crew try and explain that maybe it was instinct to change shoulders(ie implying he always hits with his left) but Wilson is a righty dominant person. He shoots right, he fights orthodox style and if you watch any of his hit compilation videos, the vast majority of his big hits are lead by his right shoulder. And I don’t think it’s coincidence that whenever he does lead with his left shoulder, it leads to questionable or downright dirty hits(this hit, his hit on Visnovsky in 2015 and his hit on Zadorov).
2012orioles
The hit on Aston-Reese is debatable, but the one on dumoulin shouldn’t be factored into this suspension. Tom Wilson plays a physical game. Not every big hit where someone gets hurt for skating with their head down is dirty. A jaw and shoulder are inches from each other. Keep your head up.