The Washington Capitals have seen their fair share of "villains" over the course of their franchise history. From Sidney Crosby to Mario Lemieux, even to Henrik Lundqvist, there have been plenty of players that Capitals fans have hated for different reasons.
In a recent tweet from The Athletic, it seems as though the Capitals' own tough guy is viewed as a villain, as Tom Wilson was named the biggest villain in New York Rangers' history.
Every good story needs a villain. Does every NHL team need one, too?
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 25, 2026
Whether it’s a rival who is despised for physical play, controversial hits, relentless agitating or competitive success, many players have found themselves loathed in certain cities.
Our NHL staff picks a… pic.twitter.com/qZj8S0CpBm
According to StatMuse, Wilson has played 48 career games against the Rangers, scoring 12 goals and adding nine assists for 21 points. He has also played 14 playoff games against them, where he has only scored one goal and added three assists for four points, but he has collected 32 penalty minutes, proving to be a physical force whenever he sees them in the postseason.
Wilson is remembered vividly by Rangers fans for cross-checking Pavel Buchnevich, then tackling and slamming Artemi Panarin, then ending up in the penalty box, where his stance and smile back towards the ice make their rounds as a meme on social media.
For the Capitals, Lemieux was listed as their biggest villain of all-time, which can likely be chalked up to his success in the past against the Capitals, both in the regular season and the playoffs.
While Wilson seemed to be the consensus pick as the Rangers' villain among fans, some fans tossed out Crosby, Denis Potvin, Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent as some "runner-up" options.
Wilson remains one of the cornerstones of the Capitals' core as they try to push for a Stanley Cup. He has had his moments where he has crossed the line, but he is a valuable member of their lineup, especially when he plays a physical style that pushes every other fanbase to hate him.
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