Tom Wilson heads to 2022 NHL All Star Game

With Alex Ovechkin missing the 2022 NHL All Star Game festivities due to testing positive for the novel coronavirus, somebody was bound to replace him. The NHL and the Washington Capitals announced that Tom Wilson will go in Ovechkin’s place.

I used to joke that we all should vote for Tom Wilson instead of Ovechkin just to drive the entire NHL crazy. Glad to see the league listened. In addition to Wilson, Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault also got added to the All Star roster. Both make their All Star Game debuts. The 2022 NHL All Star Game is presented by Honda.

Unfortunately Wilson will not be captain. That would’ve been funny. Instead the captaincy for the Metropolitan Division got bestowed to Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers. Wilson has recorded 31 points with 13 goals and 18 assists in 42 games, good for 0.74 points per game.

Wilson’s 0.74 points pregame is the highest rate he’s recorded in a season in his career. He’s also improved his points per game rate from the previous year in each of the last five seasons. Wilson is on pace to record 24 goals and 57 points this season and both would mark single season career highs. In 2018-19 he had 22 goals and in 2019-20 had 44 points. Wilson is tied for second on the Caps in goals with 13 and fourth in points.

Wilson spoke to the media right before the Caps game tonight against the Edmonton Oilers:

"“When I got asked today it was a huge honor, huge privilege. It’s exciting. At this point of my career it is something I am really looking forward to.”"

What I’m looking forward to the most is what kind of reception Tom Wilson is going to get from the crowd at Vegas. Of course the Caps fans that traveled there are going to give him nothing but love. Capital One Arena will also go wild tonight when they shoutout Tom Wilson for going to the All Star Game.

Sorry NHL but not really. The player who lives rent free in heads across the league is headed to Sin City and we can’t wait. All of us at Stars and Sticks congratulate Willy for getting in.