The Washington Capitals announced Saturday morning that center Nicklas Backstrom will make his season debut on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. A half hour later they also announced that winger Tom Wilson will also return on Sunday.
Go time, Willy 🚦#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/R22I2pFQWm
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 7, 2023
The Capitals public relations department later confirmed the somewhat cryptic tweet that Wilson will indeed return against the Blue Jackets.
Let’s bring the Whip out of the shop#ALLCAPS | @tom_wilso pic.twitter.com/UJxmDECbfW
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 7, 2023
The Capitals announced on May 25 that Wilson had undergone successful knee surgery on a torn ACL and would be out six to eight months. Wilson tore the ACL in his left knee in the first period of Game 1 of their first-round series with the Florida Panthers on May 3.
The Capitals also announced that John Carlson was moved to long-term injured reserve, freeing up the salary cap space for Nicklas Backstrom’s return. However, the team will need to make additional roster moves to fit both Backstrom and Wilson on the 23-man roster.
By Jon Sorensen