The NHL Department of Player Safety has made a statement. Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has been suspended for twenty games following his illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist. The league has clearly had enough of the repeat offender ending up involved in incidents like this, and will have him sit for nearly a quarter of the season. As the accompanying video explains:
Players who repeatedly violate league playing rules will be more severely punished for each new violation. Wilson was suspended on three occasions during the 2017-18 NHL season. On September 22nd, 2017 he was suspended for a late, high hit on Robert Thomas. Just two preseason games later, Wilson was again suspended, this time for boarding Samuel Blais. Seven months later, Wilson was suspended for an illegal check to the head of Zach Aston-Reese. This hit on Sundqvist occurred in only his 16th game since his last suspension, which was also for an illegal check to the head.
In short, including preseason and postseason games played, this is Wilson’s fourth suspension in his last 105 games—an unprecedented frequency of suspensions in the history of the Department of Player Safety.
Wilson will forfeit more than $1.26MM in salary for this suspension, though many are already expecting an appeal or grievance from the NHLPA. If it’s not shortened, Wilson will be out until the Capitals face the Chicago Blackhawks on November 21st.
well…that is definitely a statement
I thought the league needed to make a statement, but 20 games is WOW
Dang that’s a lot
It’s about time.Lets see if he finally learns from this.
Twenty games is the minimum acceptable number. When the dmmy does it again, it’s gotta be 82 games.
lol file a grievance? Dude was head hunting in open ice. Got what he deserved
Wow… the NHL finally gets this one right.
20 is the perfect suspension. Clearly Wilson is not learning, and clearly he’s endangering the safety and careers of other players.
The NHLPA should not file a grievance – it always seems dumb when they do that after one of their own members has been hurt by a dumb-dumb like Wilson.
I hope that his next suspension starts at 20 games again too.
I was predicting 5-10 but 20 is a bit extreme but it’s Tom Wilson. A player who is constantly making illegal and dangerous hits. Biggest goon in the league, nice job NHL for finally teaching this guy a lesson. Now can Marchand be suspended?
Licking should be a life long suspension
Ewwwww…yeah that marchand is a pervo.
Or maybe a homo
Wow the NHL finally got it right. Typically we see 2-5 game suspensions for dangerous plays like this and what is the outcome? Nothing. Players don’t learn because there are no real consequences and the league was setting a dangerous precedent by being too lenient. They had to make an example with Wilson. He’s dangerous and does not care one bit about the safety of anyone out there. Hopefully forfeiting a quarter of his salary and creating a huge hole in his teams lineup will teach him to think twice. Hopefully this will also teach coaches and management to actually speak to players themselves and these stupid kinds of plays. Good job, NHL.
Same amount as a cheater and almost as much as a guy who beats a woman.nhl screws up again
There goes 25% of that new contract. Honestly this only matters if they stay consistent and start suspending other players whether it’s their 2nd hit or 1st. If it’s a ridiculous dangerous play suspend the guy. But we all know when you have a goon running the safety department you won’t have consistency.
wow I am shock. given leagues history I thought 10 games at most. wonder if has anything to do with lawsuits. joe murphy story which gotten a lot coverage here in Canada recently. finally the league my start to take hit shots seriously. still does nothing to guy like marchand he goes low .
Should have been more. 4th suspension in the last 100 games!!! He obviously isn’t understanding the message. When one of his “Victims” and I totally mean it that way, ends up with CTE, we will remember, and think the 20 games was not enough. If the NHLPA appeals, who has Svundquist’s back?
4th suspension in last 100 games puts it into perspective
Doubting the NHLPA will appeal. This falls under the CBA.
What is this guys problem with the blues, 3 of those suspensions were from plays against the blues. So like 3 suspensions in 6 or 7 games against them, not good