The Washington Capitals are currently vying for a playoff spot with only 13 games remaining in their schedule. However, forward Tom Wilson will be unavailable to aid their efforts until at least April 4 due to a suspension incurred on Friday.
Wilson faced an in-person hearing via Zoom with the NHL Department of Player Safety and was subsequently suspended for six games for a high stick to the head of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor. This incident, occurring on March 20, resulted in one of the longest suspensions handed out by the league this season.
The suspension leaves Wilson with the option to appeal to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and, if necessary, to a neutral arbitrator in conjunction with the NHL Players’ Association.
The NHL Player Safety described Wilson’s actions as reckless and fully within his control, emphasizing his responsibility for the dangerous outcome given his prior disciplinary history.
This marks Wilson’s sixth suspension by the league, with his return slated for April 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The suspension sidelines him for nearly two weeks and entails a salary forfeiture of $161,458, allocated to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Despite Gregor’s acknowledgment of Wilson’s recklessness, the incident underscores Wilson’s repeated disciplinary issues, including multiple suspensions since 2015, with the longest being a 20-game ban in October 2018, later reduced to 14 games after an appeal.
Wilson’s absence poses a challenge for the Capitals, who are in a tight race for a playoff berth, trailing the Detroit Red Wings by one point in the standings for the second wild-card seed. Despite their recent victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington’s path to the postseason remains uncertain, accentuating the significance of Wilson’s suspension amidst the crucial final stretch of the season.