After another incident involving contact to the head, Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals will receive a hearing with the Department of Player Safety. Wilson hit Zach Aston-Reese in last night’s game, causing a concussion and broken jaw for the Pittsburgh Penguins forward.
This is not the first incident involving Wilson during these playoffs to be reviewed by the league, after also colliding with Brian Dumoulin and Alexander Wennberg. Neither of those incidents resulted in supplementary discipline.
In this latest incident, as with the others, there is plenty of debate over whether it deserves a suspension. Wilson does make considerable contact with Aston-Reese’s body, driving through him in a manner which would normally be deemed a legal hit. His right foot however does leave the ice, and substantial contact is made with the shorter player’s head. The injury that resulted, as well as recent events, will also likely be taken into account.
Wilson is known for playing right up to (if not over) the line, but was not penalized on the play. He was however suspended twice during the preseason, once for a late hit on St. Louis Blues prospect Robert Thomas, and once for boarding Samuel Blais.
At least there’s a hearing this time. I guess you have to break something to warrant a hearing.
The only reason the Dumoulin hit was even considered a suspension is because it’s wilson. That hit happens so fast. He’s trying to go around him because Ovi was coming from the other side, so he didn’t want to be behind a guy who’s about to get hit. And for yesterday’s, if you’re skating with your head down like that around wilson you’re gonna get smeared. Wilson isn’t head hunting. It’s a matter of inches from shoulder to jaw. And when you skate like that with your head down it’s gonna be lower to the shoulder. He’ll probably get suspended though because of his reputation
stop being a homer. yes the margin is tight on some hits but Wilson plays a dirty game. he’s had multiple questionable hits in these playoffs alone. I wouldn’t expect anything more than a game of he gets something but running around headhunting (which is what he does) has to be punished.
Absolutely it does need to be taken out of the game. Wilson is a punk who has marginal talent. It is funny earlier in the year when Wilson tried that Ryan Reaves addressed it and Wilson skated away like the punk he is. When the concussion lawsuit hits the NHL they will start being harder on idiots like Wilson.
No, you don’t understand…Wilson is a good guy, he’s just really unlucky. He just accidentally maims player after player after player after player after player after player. Such bad luck.
I’m being a homer, but you can’t skate like that and not expect to get hit hard, especially with wilson on the ice. Clean or not, you’ll end up hurt
Sure keep your head up is a great rule in general even walking down the street. but targeting needs to get out of the game.
Wilson gets three games. Count on it
Can’t suspend Doughty for one game and give Wilson nothing. He will be matched or receive more than one game.
If he doesn’t get at least 3 games then the NHL player safety department needs to close up shop. He came from center ice and LAUNCHED himself at the guy. This hit was much worse than Kadri and he got what he deserved.
I’m pretty sure his skates are on the ice at the time of the collision.