Tom Wilson will have a huge impact in the NHL Playoffs
There are a ton of Washington Capitals players who have the potential to be X factors in the Stanley Cup playoffs. But the player who has the most potential is easily Tom Wilson. He’s got a gift and that’s physicality to the ice and playmaking offense.
Wilson scored on Sunday which set a new career season high in goals with 23. He has the potential to someday be a 30 goal scorer as he’s changed things up in his physical game to avoid the lengthy suspension. Watch out NHL.
Wilson is also one of those players who you can’t really trade. Caps fans love him. NHL fans across the league hate him and consider him more of an enforcer goon. It made a little bit of sense in the early part of his career until he started scoring when he moved up to play on a line with Alex Ovechkin.
There are three teams the Caps could possibly face in the opening round. There’s the Carolina Hurricanes who think the Caps are such a big rival that they live rent free in their heads. There’s also the Florida Panthers, a fast team with a lot of offense but doesn’t have as many physical bodies that the Caps do.
I’m not confident that the Caps can take down the Panthers but I am confident in that guys like Tom Wilson will make things interesting.
Then there’s the New York Rangers if the Caps continue their hot streak and sneak into third place in the Metropolitan Division. They “upgraded” their team with Tom Wilson in mind. This would be a series that Wilson would need to focus on his offense and not feed into the drama sent from the Blueshirts.
It is those reasons and more why I think Tom Wilson can be an X factor in the playoffs no matter who the Caps are facing. And he doesn’t have to lay out many hits either. Leave it to guys like Ovechkin and Garnet Hathaway and focus on your game and helping the Caps get past their first round woes.
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With the exception of last season’s COVID shortened year, Wilson has reached the 20 goal mark three times. He has 13 goals in the playoffs including five in their 2018 run to the Stanley Cup. Everyone’s eyes will be on Ovechkin which opens up the perfect opportunity for Tom Wilson to break out whether he’s on the first or second line.