Bettman upholds Wilson’s suspension
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the 20-game suspension of Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist during a Sept. 30 pre-season game.
The right-winger drew a 10-minute penalty for the hit before being handed the ban hours before the Capitals opened their Stanley Cup title defence Oct. 3 against Boston.
The NHL Players’ Association launched an appeal two days later.
Bettman heard Wilson’s appeal of the original decision at a hearing in New York Oct. 18 and said in Thursday’s decision the evidence in the case supports a significant ban.
“Mr. Wilson’s recent play has threatened the safety and wellbeing of opposing players on too many occasions, despite prior discipline being assessed and despite the considerable efforts of the department of player safety to counsel Mr. Wilson on how to play within the rules,” Bettman said in his ruling.
“I hope that this decision will serve as a ‘wake-up call’ to Mr. Wilson, causing him to re-evaluate and make positive changes to his game.”
Wilson, considered a repeat offender under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, has been suspended four times in less than 13 months.
His most recent ban will cost him US$1.26 million in salary.