Capitals call Wilson suspension ‘garbage’ as he opts to appeal
Washington Capitals right-winger Tom Wilson will appeal his 20-game suspension from the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety, according to coach Todd Reirden. Wilson received the supplemental discipline Wednesday afternoon for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist in the teams’ pre-season finale Sunday.
Wilson has 48 hours from the time the suspension was handed down to provide written notice of an appeal to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, but it’s highly unlikely Bettman will overturn the decision. Wilson could then appeal to a neutral arbitrator, and in both cases, Wilson would remain suspended during the appeal process (unless the full term of his suspension has run). The appeal would go through the NHL Players’ Association, not the Capitals.
Based on the $5.17-million average annual value of Wilson’s contract, he will forfeit $1.26 million. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Wilson’s appeal will likely focus on the surprising length of the suspension. The Department of Player Safety described Wilson’s fourth suspension in his past 105 games, including preseason and playoffs, as “an unprecedented frequency of suspensions in the history of the Department of Player Safety,” which led to the harsh sentence.
Washington officials privately suspected he’d be suspended roughly 10 games, and the 20game ban is the most severe discipline the Department of Player Safety has handed down since Raffi Torres was suspended 41 games in 2015 for an illegal hit to an opponent’s head. That was the fifth suspension of Torres’s career, and his fourth suspension had been for 25 games three years earlier.
Wilson typically plays on the Capitals’ top line with centre Evgeny Kuznetsov and captain Alex Ovechkin. He’s coming off a career season with 14 goals and 21 assists, which earned him a new six-year, $31-million deal, and his physical play has been a strong complement for skilled linemates.
Right-winger Brett Connolly skated in Wilson’s place in Wednesday’s season opener, which Washington won, 7-0.
Capitals captain Ovechkin said before the decision he was expecting Wilson to appeal.
“It’s hard to talk right now because I don’t want to be the guy who is going to step, but I think it’s too much,” Ovechkin said.
If the appeal does not get overturned, Wilson will serve his 20-game ban and not be available to play until the Capitals’ Nov. 21 game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Regardless, he will be able to practise and travel with the team.
“Honestly, I think it is garbage, if I’m going to be honest,” rightwinger Devante Smith-Pelly said. “We watched a video from the league saying what hits are good and what aren’t. They showed some hits way worse than that, maybe not in force, but in regards to the head that were so-called allowed, and I guess he just had a different rule book. It’s garbage, honestly.”
Wilson was able to be with the team at Capital One Arena for the Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony before the team’s game against the Bruins.