Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has built a reputation as one of the NHL’s most controversial players due to his physical style of play and history of suspensions.
This article provides a detailed look at Wilson’s suspension history, including fines and other notable incidents throughout his career.
Tom Wilson’s Suspensions and Fines
| Date | Incident | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| March 19, 2015 | Diving/embellishment against Zach Parise (Wild) | $2,000 fine |
| April 28, 2016 | Kneeing Conor Sheary (Penguins) | $2,403.67 fine |
| Sept. 22, 2017 | Predatory hit on Robert Thomas (Blues) | 2 preseason games |
| Oct. 1, 2017 | Boarding Sammy Blais (Blues) | 4 games |
| May 1, 2018 | Illegal check to the head of Zach Aston-Reese (Penguins) | 3 playoff games |
| Sept. 20, 2018 | Illegal hit to the head of Oskar Sundqvist (Blues) | 20 games (reduced to 14 on appeal) |
| March 6, 2021 | Boarding Brandon Carlo (Bruins) | 7 games |
| May 4, 2021 | Roughing Pavel Buchnevich (Rangers) | $5,000 fine |
Notable Incidents and Suspensions
Sept. 22, 2017: Predatory Hit on Robert Thomas
- Suspension: Two preseason games
- Incident: Late hit along the boards on St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas
- Key Point: NHL cited the “predatory nature” of the hit
- Impact: A contentious decision that left the Capitals and their coach, Barry Trotz, surprised
In a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues, Tom Wilson delivered a late hit along the boards on center Robert Thomas. The hit occurred well after Thomas had released the puck, and the NHL Department of Player Safety cited the “predatory nature” of the hit as a key factor in their decision to suspend Wilson for two preseason games.
The ruling was contentious, leaving the Capitals and their coach, Barry Trotz, surprised by the severity of the punishment for a preseason incident.
Oct. 1, 2017: Boarding Sammy Blais
- Suspension: Four games
- Incident: Boarding Blues forward Sammy Blais in a preseason game
- Key Point: Wilson received a five-minute major and a game misconduct during the game
- Impact: This infraction earned Wilson the repeat offender tag
Less than two weeks after his suspension for the hit on Robert Thomas, Tom Wilson was involved in another controversial play during a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues. Wilson was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Blues forward Sammy Blais.
The NHL Department of Player Safety reviewed the incident and determined that Wilson had violated Rule 41 (Boarding), resulting in a four-game suspension. This infraction also earned Wilson the repeat offender tag, which would factor into future disciplinary decisions.
May 1, 2018: Illegal Check to the Head of Zach Aston-Reese
- Suspension: Three playoff games
- Incident: Illegal check to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese
- Key Point: The hit broke Aston-Reese’s jaw and caused a concussion
- Impact: The suspension came during a contentious playoff series between the Capitals and Penguins
During a heated playoff series between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tom Wilson delivered an illegal check to the head of Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese. The hit occurred in Game 3 of the second-round series, with Wilson making contact with Aston-Reese’s head after the forward had released a shot.
Aston-Reese suffered a broken jaw and a concussion as a result of the hit. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Wilson for three playoff games, a significant punishment given the importance of postseason play.
Sept. 20, 2018: Illegal Hit to the Head of Oskar Sundqvist
- Initial Suspension: 20 games (reduced to 14 on appeal)
- Incident: Illegal hit to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist in a preseason game
- Key Point: The hit was deemed to be a violation of Rule 48, which covers illegal checks to the head
- Impact: This was Wilson’s lengthiest suspension to date and cost him over $1.2 million in salary
In a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues, Tom Wilson delivered an illegal hit to the head of Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist. The hit violated Rule 48, which covers illegal checks to the head, and resulted in a match penalty for Wilson.
The NHL Department of Player Safety initially suspended Wilson for 20 games, his lengthiest suspension to date. Wilson appealed the decision, and an independent arbitrator reduced the suspension to 14 games. Despite the reduction, Wilson forfeited over $1.2 million in salary as a result of the suspension.
March 6, 2021: Boarding Brandon Carlo
- Suspension: Seven games
- Incident: Boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo
- Key Point: Carlo suffered a concussion and spent a night in the hospital
- Impact: Wilson forfeited $311,781.61 in salary as a result of the suspension
During a regular-season game against the Boston Bruins, Tom Wilson was involved in a dangerous boarding incident with Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo. Wilson hit Carlo from behind, causing the defenseman’s head to violently impact the glass.
Carlo suffered a concussion and spent a night in the hospital as a result of the hit. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Wilson for seven games, citing the severity of the injury and Wilson’s status as a repeat offender. Wilson forfeited $311,781.61 in salary as a result of the suspension.
Throughout his career, Wilson has also been involved in several other controversial incidents that did not result in suspensions, such as hits on Brayden Schenn and Lubomir Visnovsky. These incidents have contributed to his reputation as a player who frequently crosses the line between physical play and dangerous hits.
Conclusion
As the NHL continues to prioritize player safety, Tom Wilson’s suspension history serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the league in consistently enforcing rules and disciplining players for dangerous plays.
While Wilson’s physical style of play is an asset to the Capitals, his repeated infractions have led to significant criticism from fans, media, and other players across the league.
