After delivering another questionable hit in the Capitals’ final preseason game against the St. Louis Blues two days ago, right wing Tom Wilson has been suspended four games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. This suspension comes after the fifth-year former first-round pick was suspended two games earlier in the preseason after an interference call.
Wilson’s hearing was set for earlier today and the DOPS announced the verdict just moments ago. This is Wilson’s first regular season suspension of his career, having been fined for previous hits. After the departures of top-six wingers Justin Williams and Marcus Johansson this past summer, Wilson is expected to have a bigger role this season, and Head Coach Barry Trotz has already told reporters he expects the rugged winger to have a double-digit goal total this season. Wilson told members of the media after his two-game suspension in the preseason that he would not change the way he plays his game. After his aforementioned two-game suspension, it was all but inevitable that a harsher verdict would be handed out. The Department of Player Safety’s video explaining the length of the suspension was released along with the verdict:
By Michael Fleetwood
It was bound to happen sooner or later. He’s gotten away with multiple “questionable” hits in the past, but it was only a matter of time until the NHL DOPS handed one a long one down to him. Hate to see him get suspended, though. Hopefully he can rebound after the suspension and produce offensively as well as continue his outstanding defensive work from last season.
Agreed, Michael.
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Why is it that Wilson gets 4 game suspension with that hit, yes I know it’s bad and he has done hits like that before, but Crosby chopped a guys finger off just about in a slash last season and got NOTHING? That does not seem fair at all.
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