Caps’ Wilson to have in-person hearing for hit on Blues’ Sundqvist
WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson will have an in-person hearing with the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety in New York on Wednesday morning after he was ejected from Sunday’s pre-season finale for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist.
An in-person hearing means Wilson can be suspended for more than five games, and the timing of the hearing means he almost certainly won’t be in the lineup for Washington’s openingnight Stanley Cup banner-raising against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
Because Wilson was assessed a match penalty for his illegal check to the head of Oskar Sundqvist, he’s already suspended indefinitely pending a ruling from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, which will presumably just be the Department of Player Safety’s decision on his punishment. Dating back to last preseason, Wilson is facing his fourth suspension, which is why supplemental discipline is expected to be harsh.
The Capitals will have to construct an opening-night roster by 5 p.m. Tuesday with the assumption that Wilson won’t be available. Defenceman Aaron Ness was waived Monday afternoon, meaning Washington is down to eight defencemen and 15 forwards. Center Travis Boyd, who is week-to-week with an undisclosed lower-body injury — he’s been wearing a protective boot on his left foot — will likely be placed on injured reserve. Forwards Jayson Megna and Nathan Walker both remain on the team, and one of them is expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday.
Defenceman Michal Kempny is considered day-to-day with a concussion, but because he hasn’t practised in a week, it seems unlikely he’ll play on Wednesday or even Thursday in Pittsburgh. Prospect blueliner Jonas Siegenthaler can be sent down to the American Hockey League without exposure to waivers, but if the Capitals intend to keep him on the roster to have an extra healthy defenceman while Kempny is still sidelined, then Kempny has to go on injured reserve to clear the roster room and Boyd will have to be designated for long-term injured reserve so Washington has enough cap space. A player on long-term injured reserve is required to miss at least 10 games and
24 days.
Wilson plays on the Capitals’ top line beside centre Evgeny Kuznetsov and captain Alex Ovechkin. He’s coming off a career season with 14 goals and 21 assists, and his physical play has been a good complement for skilled linemates because he can clear space for them and is menacing on the forecheck.
Washington brass has encouraged Wilson’s bruising style of play in the past, but with this likely being his fourth suspension in a year, the 24-year-old might be forced to find a way to still be effective without the illegal hits. Blues Coach Mike Yeo said Sundqvist has “a couple upper-body injuries” and is “in a bad spot.”
Wilson was most recently suspended three games in the second round of the playoffs for a hit that broke Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese’s jaw.
“We’ve talked about it a lot with (Wilson),” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby told reporters Monday. “He still chooses to make those hits. I’m sure the league’s well aware of that. It’s not first time we’re talking about a hit that he made, especially talking about us. For whatever reason, he still decides to do that. ... You also understand there are instances where guys get hit — it’s part of the game, it happens fast, their intent’s not there. But when a guy does it a handful of times, you start to question what the intent is.”