The Washington Capitals announced on Friday morning that they have signed right-wing Tom Wilson to a seven-year contract extension that will carry a $6.5 million cap hit and begin in the 2024-25 season. The 29-year-old could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2024.
Tom Wilson #ALLCAPS
$6.5M x 7 yr extensionStructure:
24-25: $4M + $5M SB
25-26: 4.5M + 3M
26-27: 3.625M + 2M
27-28: 4.3M + 2M
28-29: 4.275M + 2M
29-30: 900k + 4.5M
30-31: 900k + 4.5MYrs 1-4: 15 team NTC
Yrs 5-7: 10 team NTChttps://t.co/PN9zFx3fKr— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 4, 2023
“Tom possesses all the intangibles needed to win in this League and we are extremely pleased to sign him to a long-term contract, giving him the opportunity to finish his career in a Capitals’ uniform,” said MacLellan in a statement. “Throughout his career, Tom has improved every facet of his game through his drive and competitiveness. We feel his work ethic and leadership qualities will be a tremendous asset to our organization for years to come.”
After recovering from a torn ACL suffered against the Florida Panthers on May 2, 2022, Wilson tallied 13 goals and 22 points in 33 games last season.
Teams reportedly kicked tires on Wilson with his contract status past this season unclear after Washington had its worst season since 2006-07. During the team’s breakdown day in April, both Wilson and GM Brian MacLellan expressed interest in a contract extension.
In 680 career NHL regular-season games, all with Washington, Wilson has earned 128 goals and 295 points. He set career-highs in goals (24), assists (28), points (52), and plus-minus (+13) in 78 games during the 2021-22 season. Wilson has scored 20 goals in a season three times and 35 points four during his 10-season NHL career.
Graphic: Capitals PR
Wilson has also earned 14 goals and 31 points in 83 career postseason games, including five goals and 15 points in 21 games during Washington’s Stanley Cup run in 2018.
Washington is still looking to make a hockey trade in their top-six forward group.
The final year of Wilson’s current contract counts $5.17 million against the NHL salary cap.
Tom Wilson, signed 7x$6.5M by WSH, is a physical, defence-first, body-checking second line checking winger. Lots of Intangibles™, plays all situations, hits, plays a complementary role on skill lines while producing at a respectable rate. #AllCaps pic.twitter.com/GlcQzqInvU
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 4, 2023
By Harrison Brown
The next captain. Book it!
Welcome home Tommy!
Out of the blue! Just as I was grumbling that nothing’s going on anymore)
Good signing, fair deal. Tom is a key piece to post Ovi era.
Captain Willy!
Outstanding
Excellent news!!! Congratulations 43 and Caps org!!!
Yes! Finally got the deal done!
Good and fair signing. However we ae now over the cap for next season. Does Kuzy get moved which means another bad contract coming in or having to give up a prospect to get rid of an unhappy underperforming player or do they buy out Mantha or, if the Hockey Gods will smile on us, Backy retires!! Excited to see a line of Wilson, Strom and Ovie on the ice!!
I’ll let someone else tell you how wrong you are again.
As you never have anything intelligent to say please go elsewhere where your snide remarks are appreciated but for me all you are is a minor irritation like a grain of sand in my shoe that I just shake out and move on from.
next season – as in, 2024-2025, right?
No from what I read as of the signing of Wilson they are now $700,850 over the cap. They have 2 goalies, 7 d-men, 12 forwards and 1 on LTIR as of today. With Wilson signing now and over the cap do they buyout Mantha, trade Kuzy or hope Backy either retires or can go on LTIR? After the season there are 7 UFA and RFA on the roster and there are 11 who are in the minors. Trying to stay competitive while needing to rebuild just to get a record is silly as not only does the team suffer but so do the fans.
Wrong again
Love Willy, glad to see him remain a Cap, but as with all these long deals, I do have to wonder if we will all be feeling the same in 6 years. He’ll be 37 at the end of this contract.
Sad we will be feeling the signing of long term contracts for years to come as we are in trouble the next 2-3 years right now and Only have 3 players signed for the 26/27 season or beyond. The guys who are 25-30 now may not be on the roster in 3 years and it might just be full of the guys who are in the minors now or draft pick sand lets hope its not full of high priced free agents or low priced dumpster dive players..
How many times do you have to repeat the same tiresome complaint. Find a different team if this is so awful.
Yawn! Like the proverbial flea on a camel’s rear end I cast you out!! As the French Taunter insulting King Arthur and his knights says ” I fart in your general direction! and your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!”
This is a really good deal especially with a lot of 8x8M ideas floating around. Getting rid of the 8th year is huge and only 6.5M AAV which will not be too heavy as the Salary Cap increases a bunch over next few years.
Tom is the transition piece so i like this signing. But yes, GMBM still has some work to do to move players and cap. We need room for Protas, Malenstyn, and McMichael at a minimum.