Washington Capitals Player Preview: Tom Wilson Needs to limit Penalty Minutes

Tom Wilson is without a doubt one of the most dynamic players in the NHL. The 27-year-old power forward has cemented himself as one of the most important pieces of the Washington Capitals‘ lineup. Known around the league as one of the most physical players, he is someone that opposing team’s need to game plan for.

Tom Wilson has made incredible strides in his development since first appearing in an NHL game back in 2013-2014. Physically speaking, Wilson is one of the strongest players in the league. When you combine that with incredible hands and a high hockey-IQ, you get an elite level player. Wilson scored 13 goals and added 20 assists in only 47 games a season ago. Prior to that, Wilson has scored 20 goals or more since the 2018-2019 season. In 2021-2022, Tom Wilson will surely hit the 20-goal mark again.

Known for his heavy hitting and fighting prowess, Wilson has a target on his back and he needs to continue to develop as a player to avoid finding himself in the penalty box or worse: suspended. He’s too talented to be off-the-ice. Since a 20-game suspension, which was reduced to 14 games by an independent arbitrator, in the 2018 preseason there has been a distinct change in Wilson’s play but it is still painfully obvious he once again, needs to adjust.

Beloved in Washington DC and hated outside of it, Wilson is a lightning rod. Whether it’s fair or not, he is viewed by the NHL under a different lens. He knows it, but he needs to do more than he has already done to adjust. Wilson should remain physical, he shouldn’t shy away from big hits or fighting in the right situations but he needs to leave some of that stereotypical enforcer role to a player like Garnet Hathaway.

Regardless of the circumstances that surround it, it’s completely unacceptable for a first-line forward to lead the league in penalty minutes and that is exactly what Tom Wilson did a season ago with 96 penalty minutes in only 47 games. A big part of the reason that Wilson only appeared in 47 games was that he was suspended 7 games by the NHL for an unnecessarily high hit to Brendan Carlo.

There is no denying that Wilson is one of the league’s best players but when Brad Marchand, a player who had to be asked by the NHL to stop licking his opponents, is able to play in 53 of 56 games and total only 46 penalty minutes, it is clear something needs to change. Wilson needs to focus on staying out of the box in 2021-2022 so that he can help lead the Capitals to another Stanley Cup.