Earlier this week there were various rumblings that surfaced discussing the possibility of the Washington Capitals trading forward Tom Wilson. Wilson is entering the final year of his six-year deal with the Capitals.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, moving Wilson is not going to happen. He discussed the rumors in his 32 Thoughts podcast on Friday.
“During the final, I really didn’t get a chance to look into it too much. I heard the reports. I’ll be honest, I didn’t hear any of the information myself. But I heard the reports. So I finally looked into it now that the Stanley Cup Final is over, and I got rejected,” said Friedman.
“I was told it’s not happening. I was told that the Capitals want to keep him, and they consider him a big part of their future.”
Wilson missed the first half of the 2022-23 season recovering from knee surgery he underwent last June. He played in just 33 games, but recorded 13 goals and nine assists during his brief play in the 2022-23 season. He recorded a personal expected goals for percentage of 43.43 (yes, really) and was a -13.
Wilson has eclipsed 20 goals, 40 points three times in last five seasons, including career-highs with 24 and 52 in 78 games during 2021-22.
Wilson will be eligible to sign an extension of up to eight years with the Capitals, beginning on July 1.
By Jon Sorensen
Next captain of the Washington Capitals
I expect a signing announcement in two weeks
8×8 coming up
Lower both. Don’t repeat same mistake as with Nick.
If you don’t give him what he will get on open market, he’ll just go to free agency.
I love me some Tom Wilson dude is special. Love his game through and through but 8*8 is too high. Dude has been in the league for a while getting ready to be 30 with alot of wear and tear . I’m sorry but I don’t go higher than 5 years 35-38 million
That would ideal for Caps, but two sides to story. You will have to give a little more term and cap because he will just go to free agency. Need to match what he could get in the streets
No you don’t. I love Tom and hope he is true when he states he wants to be here and will work out some hometown discount. But if the option is 8×8 you walk away.
This idea just popped into the internet NHL rumor mill: “Should the Washington Capitals add Victor Olofsson and strengthen their defensive corps?” Investigation? Came from a beast called “Sportskeedia”. Story sounds reasonable, but its “stand-alone” nature makes it pure speculation.
For NovaCapsFans staff: The “Leave a Reply” function on the website is acting VERY squirrely today. A tiny little box for commentary, followed by MASSIVELY HUGE icons for Social Media. Same thing on three different web browsers. Request advise. Thanks
“Leave a Reply” looks back to normal. Thanks!!
Management has to make several BIG decisions this summer and hopefully before the draft. The first they have already made in getting a new and young HC. Another decision that they have to make and also a player has to make is will Backy come back and does the new HC really want him back? Yet another one is on Wilson. He will be 30 at the end of next season. He has stated that he will not negotiate a contract during the season; thus telling me he is willing to go to free agency. Doing that Tom is gambling that he will have a great year on an average team and get a big pay day next summer; and yes he could resign with the Caps after the season. From the Caps perspective do they offer him a long term deal that would take him to possible the age of 35-38 with a high salary in the range of $6-8 mil a year or do they trade him during the draft this year or see what production he has next year and make him available before the trade deadline? One thing to ask does Tom even want to sign a long term deal here thinking that in 3 years there will be a rebuild and that he might be trade bait then? Tom would look great on the 1st line with Strome and Ovie but what is his price and how will that affect the cap space not only now but in the next several years especially if they cannot shed both Mantha and Backy this summer. Yes I would like to see Tom in a Caps sweater for the rest of his career but is that best for both the team and the player?
Why wouldn’t he want to play an even more significant role in a rebuilding team? He would be probably the last one standing from The Cup Team, hopefully with still good production, hopefully without his knee starting to haunt him. Club legend, mentor to younger players, leader of the pack, and all that. Or you got a feeling he puts money and comfort first, that is why the Caps should ditch him when it’s most profitable? And then what… look for a replacement, or hope someone from the younger and less expensive players will break through? I’m not talking about the number of years to sign him for, just in principle. Haven’t we already been doing something similar all the time lately, trading away best assets and gambling for new people to be just as good (sometimes it panned out, and sometimes it didn’t). How many people who could have continued contributing in a big way or developed into even better players have we given away like that? Doesn’t sound like a sustainable policy to me… If you don’t keep people you can build a team on, what is left then?
One word answer: MONEY!!!!!! Three word Answer: MONEY LEANGTH OF CONTRACT!!!!!!! Maybe Tom will sit back and think yes I want to be on a rebuilding club and make lots of money, if he is offered it. OR maybe he decided he would rather play for a contending team now, have a chance at a 2nd Cup and also get paid huge amounts of cash now!!
Yes the Caps have traded away a lot of young talent over the years but this one is different in that they have no say in what Tom does as he is a UFA, so he can sign where ever he pleases. The Caps cant ditch him and they cant force him to resign here. They make their best offer and see what he does. Now the question is, as he has stated he will NOT negotiate during the season; so if he is still unsigned come January or February do you trade him and get something or hold unto him and possible see him walk after the season?
One last thing, maybe just maybe Tom in looking for both Big Money and the last contract he will sign. Since he will be 30 at the end of next season I would think probably around 8 years and $8-9 mil per. Can the Caps afford either and if they can should the really sign someone to 8 years again, especially at the age of 30? Yes you can say look at Ovie and I say look at the injuries and production decline of Backy, Kovalchuk (talk about the waste of a 3rd round pick) and Oshie for example. There was a study done by the UBC business school and it stated that forwards reach their peak scoring performance at age 28 and defencemen peak at age 29. Forwards: Improve more quickly than they decline and typically begin “a significant decline in their early 30s and perform within 90 per cent of their peak from 24 to 32 years old.
So taking all that into consideration and knowing that where and when he signs is up to Tom is being the last player from the only Cup team that this team has known enough and good enough reason to sign him? Also might it not be better to look for leadership in a younger player now and hope that he stays here and grows and can be part of the next Cup team rather than someone who can talk about past glory and say I am a Legend?
Personally I would look at the results from their long contracts: Ovie yes it worked out but with Carlson, Backy and Oshie there have been injuries and lower production. I don’t think Tom will be the 2nd coming of Ovie so…..only time will tell when and where he signs and for how much and how many years.