Wilson gets chance to open up his game

Teammates step up, share tough-guy responsibilities

WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson isn’t afraid to throw his body around or step in to defend a teammate. Now in his seventh NHL season, he isn’t changing his approach any time soon; he knows his identity still resides in creating offense with his physical presence and being the player his opponents are aware of on the ice.

But General Manager Brian MacLellan acquired two strong, hard players this offseason in forward Garnet Hathaway and defenseman Radko Gudas, and the complementary additions have allowed the 6-foot-4, 218-pound Wilson to open up his game.

“I just think that when you have more guys playing a harder game, the team does better,” MacLellan said. “Often if someone is playing that way, it brings the other guys up to that level and they want to play that way too. They set the tone for the game.”

With Hathaway and Gudas on board, Wilson’s responsibility to be that main hard-hitting presence is shared, and he faces less obligation to take fighting majors. Through the Capitals first 16 games, both Gudas and Hathaway have dropped the gloves to stand up for their new teammates. Wilson has taken notice — and so have all the players in the room.

“In years past, if there was a hit or a teammate that needs to be stood up for, you know, I was kinda the guy that was going to do it,” Wilson said. “And I still am, but now there are two to three other guys who are willing to do it as well.”

Still, Wilson said when he finds himself in situations when fights happen “really quick” on the ice, he will be in the middle of it. The difference now is in slowerdeveloping situations: An opponent delivers a big hit, and there is a chance to reciprocate on an ensuing shift.

Wilson, who has no fighting majors and is second on the team with 39 hits this season, also said opponents looking for a fight no longer are always looking for him.

MacLellan was quick to note that the team acquired Hathaway and Gudas not solely with Wilson in mind, and that Wilson has to play his game no matter who is in the lineup.

“It doesn’t have to be the same guy every night, and it’s going to be the same thing with them,” Wilson said. “If they get hit, there are still going to be two guys there to stand up for them. That’s what is great about a team and what is great about having guys willing to do it. It is a group mentality, not just one guy by himself trying to take on the whole team.”

Alex Ovechkin, also a physical presence for the Capitals, said there is now less pressure not only on Wilson, but everyone. T.J. Oshie said mentally it is a little easier for Wilson to just focus on hockey and scoring goals but he’s still going to be physical and drop the gloves if he has to.

Wilson already has 12 points (five goals, seven assists). Last year, Wilson had 22 goals and18 assists in 63 games after missing the first 16 because of a suspension for an illegal check to the head.

“Everything right now is fast, and it’s not a lot of tough guys out there,” Ovechkin said. “Teams don’t want to play against us because we play physical.”

Hathaway, who leads the team in hits with 41, and Gudas, who is third with 34, aren’t the only depth players getting involved. Wilson points to the Capitals’ preseason tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks. Neither Hathaway nor Gudas were on the ice. When Martin Fehervary got hit on his blind side by the boards by Andrew Shaw, Wilson instinctively skated directly over, but Lewington swooped in and dropped the gloves before Wilson could. Wilson actually got pinched against the glass trying to get out of the way, as Lewington and Shaw started trading punches.

“You know, usually on a team there are a couple guys who are willing to do it, and it is no different on our team,” Wilson said. “But like I said, those guys play hard, and they play the right way.”