Tom Wilson’s previous has left him with no advantage of the doubt within the current, which is why the NHL’s division of participant security handed the Washington Capitals ahead a six-game suspension Friday for high-sticking Noah Gregor of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The play in query was careless, and even reckless, nevertheless it didn’t look like malicious. You possibly can depend Gregor amongst those that thought the one-handed chop he took to the face was unintended.
Nonetheless, that wasn’t sufficient to maintain Wilson from matching the longest suspension handed out throughout this NHL season.
Wilson will forfeit $161,458.32 as a part of the punishment, bringing his profession whole of wage misplaced to suspensions and fines to greater than $1.4 million.
Throughout an 11-year NHL profession, he’s now obtained six suspensions, three fines and quite a few different warnings.
The most recent ban will sideline him from Washington’s playoff push till April 4. The Capitals entered play Friday three factors behind Detroit for the ultimate wild-card spot within the Japanese Convention.
Underneath the phrases of the collective bargaining settlement, Wilson has 48 hours to launch an attraction. The primary one could be heard by Gary Bettman. Ought to the NHL commissioner uphold the ruling, Wilson would have the choice to take the case to a impartial arbitrator.
Wilson went down that highway after receiving a 20-game suspension for a harmful hit on St. Louis’ Oskar Sundqvist in October 2018. The arbitrator diminished his punishment to 14 video games in that case.
That was a part of a 15-month stretch the place Wilson had a number of in-person conferences with George Parros, the NHL’s senior vp of participant security, to debate curbing habits that noticed him suspended on 4 separate events and sit out three playoff video games, 18 regular-season video games and two preseason video games.
Wilson apologized to Gregor instantly after placing him within the face with sufficient drive to chip a few his tooth throughout Wednesday’s sport. After first delivering a bodycheck on the Leafs ahead, Wilson swung his stick round Gregor’s physique and made direct contact along with his chin and mouth — incomes a double minor for high-sticking late in a 7-3 loss to the Leafs.
“I don’t suppose he’s making an attempt to slash a man within the face,” Gregor informed reporters in Toronto after follow Friday. “I don’t suppose anybody within the league is ever making an attempt to do this. In all probability just a little reckless with the stick and sadly acquired me, however I’m tremendous.”
Tom Wilson’s rap sheet
March 22, 2024: Suspended six video games for high-sticking Toronto’s Noah Gregor, forfeiting $161,458.32 in wage.
Could 4, 2021: Fined $5,000 for roughing the Rangers’ Pavel Buchnevich.
March 6, 2021: Suspended seven video games for boarding Boston’s Brandon Carlo, forfeiting $311,781.61 in wage.
Oct. 3, 2018: Suspended 14 video games after an attraction for an unlawful examine to the top of St. Louis’ Oskar Sundqvist, forfeiting $882,113.88 in wage.
Could 2, 2018: Suspended three playoff video games for an unlawful examine to the top of Pittsburgh’s Zach Aston-Reese.
Oct. 3, 2017: Suspended 4 video games for boarding St. Louis’ Sammy Blais, forfeiting $97,560.96 in wage
Sept. 23, 2017: Suspended two preaseason video games for interference towards St. Louis’ Robert Thomas.
April 29, 2016: Fined $2,403.67 for kneeing Pittsburgh’s Conor Sheary.
March 27, 2015: Fined $2,000 by NHL for incurring two diving infractions.
(Picture: Patrick Smith / Getty Pictures)