NHLPA files appeal for Wilson

The NHL Players Association filed an appeal on behalf of Tom Wilson after the Washington Capitals forward was suspended 20 games for an illegal check to the head.

The NHLPA announced the expected move Friday, which had to happen within 48 hours of the Department of Player Safety suspending Wilson. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will hear the appeal, though the date has not been determined.

Wilson was suspended for his hit on St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist in Washington’s preseason finale. It is the fourth suspension of Wilson’s career, all coming in the past 13 months, and will cost him over $1.26 million in salary as a repeat offender if it’s upheld.

This is the seventh appeal Bettman will hear since 2012. He upheld bans of 10 games for Antoine Vermette in 2017, 20 for Dennis Wideman in 2016 and 15 games for Shawn Thornton and 10 games for Patrick Kaleta in 2013. He reduced Daniel Carcillo’s 10-game suspension to six in 2014 and Raffi Torres’ 25-game suspension to 21 in 2012.

If Bettman upholds this suspension, Wilson and the NHLPA could appeal to a neutral arbitrator. Wideman’s ban for striking an official was reduced to 10 games by an arbitrator, though he already had served 19 by the time that decision was rendered.

Devils

Forward Jesper Bratt will miss the start of the season because of a broken jaw. Bratt, 20, of Sweden, was hit in the face by a puck that was shot from the point and deflected off the crossbar in a practice Thursday in Gothenburg, Sweden. The team said Friday he’ll be out a few weeks but there is no need for surgery. He was placed on injured reserve.

The Devils open their season Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers in Sweden. Bratt had a surprising rookie season with 13 goals and 22 assists in 74 NHL games. He was a sixth-round draft pick in 2016.

The Devils signed veteran Drew Stafford, 32, to a one-year, $810,000 contract Friday. Stafford, who had been in training camp on a professional tryout offer, had 8 goals and 7 assists in 59 games with New Jersey in the 2017-18 season.