NHL will not punish Wilson hit

Nylander, Toronto agree on contract

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson won’t face any supplemental discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety after he was ejected Friday night from a game against the New Jersey Devils for an illegal check to the head, a person familiar with the situation told The Washington Post.

Wilson collided with forward Brett Seney in the second period, and though the hit was late and could have been considered interference, the contact was through the shoulder. The league rarely suspends for interference without substantial head contact.

Seney was not injured on the play, and Wilson will play Sunday in a game against the Anaheim Ducks. Through nine games, he has scored seven goals with six assists, playing on the top line as well as the power play and penalty kill.

It’s been just nine games since Wilson returned from the fourth suspension of his career, and the Capitals argued that Wilson’s reputation worked against him in the referees’ assessment in the game.

The Department of Player Safety ultimately considered the match penalty on the ice sufficient, and because Wilson didn’t make contact with Seney’s head nor used force beyond his own momentum, the hit wasn’t worthy of a suspension.

Maple Leafs

William Nylander’s contract impasse with Toronto has ended. The restricted free agent signed a six-year deal Saturday, just before the 5 p.m. deadline. The deal is worth $10.2 million this season and $6.9 million a year the rest of the seasons. Nylander had to sign by the deadline to be eligible to play in the NHL this season. He and the club had been at odds on the terms of a new agreement with negotiations stretching through the summer, into training camp and ultimately forcing the 22-year-old winger to miss 26 games. Nylander has backto-back 61-point seasons.

Senators

Ben Harpur scored his first NHL goal, Craig Anderson stopped 36 shots and the Senators spoiled Erik Karlsson’s return to Ottawa by beating the San Jose Sharks, 6-2, Saturday. Karlsson, a former Senators captain, played his first game in Ottawa since he was traded to San Jose in the offseason. The team honored the twotime Norris Trophy winner with a first-period video tribute.