08/04/2023 at 10:31am EDT
via the Washington Capitals,
The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Tom Wilson to a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Wilson's extension will begin with the 2024-25 season and will carry an average annual value of $6.5 million. Wilson is under contract with Washington through the 2030-31 season.
"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. "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."
Wilson, 29, recorded 22 points (13g, 9a) in 33 games (0.67 P/GP) with the Capitals last season, a 54-point pace over 82 games. Despite missing 49 games in 2022-23, Wilson ranked tied for fifth on the team in goals and power-play goals (4). The 6'4", 220-pound forward has recorded 295 points (128g, 167a) in 680 career games with Washington.
During the 2021-22 season, Wilson set career highs in goals (24), assists (28), points (52), power-play points (10) and ice time per game (18:35) in 78 games played. The Toronto, Ontario native ranked tied for second on the Capitals in goals and fourth in assists and points. In addition, Wilson's 0.67 points-per-game rate in 2021-22 was the second highest of his career (2020-21: 0.70 P/GP). Wilson also set a career low for penalty minutes in an 82-game season (98 PIMs) in 2021-22 and his 240 hits ranked tied for 11th in the NHL. Wilson was just one of two players to finish the season with 200-plus hits and 50-plus points (also Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk). Wilson represented the Capitals at the 2022 NHL All-Star game in Las Vegas, his first career All-Star Game selection.
Wilson, a three-time 20-goal scorer, has scored 80 even-strength goals since 2017-18, which ranks second on the Capitals in that span (Alex Ovechkin: 176). In addition, Wilson is the only Capitals forward to average at least 1:30 of power play ice time per game (1:30) and shorthanded ice time per game (1:49) over the last six seasons.
During the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup run, Wilson recorded 15 points (5g, 10a) in 21 games, establishing career playoff highs in goals, assists and points. Wilson registered a point in 11 of his 21 playoff games, including four multi-point efforts and three points (2g, 1a) in Washington's five Stanley Cup Final games against the Vegas Golden Knights. In 83 career playoff games, Wilson has recorded 31 points (14g, 17a).
Since making his NHL regular-season debut on Oct. 1, 2013, Wilson ranks seventh in the NHL in hits (2,039) and leads Capitals forwards in blocked shots (400). Wilson ranks third in franchise history in penalty minutes (1,299) and tied for ninth in shorthanded goals (7).
Wilson was drafted by Washington in the first round, 16th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft. Among his draft class, Wilson ranks third in games played, sixth in goals and seventh in points.
Wow. Just...wow.
Contract will end when he's 37. He'll have a modified NTC throughout this contract.
Total insanity. Wilson's health has not been good and he has only played one full season. He is now not tradable due to this asinine contract besides the NTC. This has Buyout written all over this.
Disagree.
This has Ovies aging and might have a shot at 1 more if you can fill a roster in quickly and get Ovie on a healthy break going into the playoffs.
And if not, the team wont have to worry about a cap nor other teams flies bothering Oviejust filling seats for a lengthy rebuild. And Ovie can pull a Cabrera and chase records without a playoff in sight with Wilson willing to punch anyone at any time.
Especially true when some of their top recent draft picks have KHL commitments.
from Mike McKenna of Th Daily Faceoff,
I want to be very clear: I think Wilson has earned every penny of his new deal. Hes been a warrior for the Caps, and at times, the teams nuclear deterrent. Theres a tangible effect on the opposition when hes in the lineup. Id want him on my team eight days a week.
But my gut feeling is that even though Wilsons $6.5 million AAV will become reasonable in the next few years as the NHLs salary cap increases, the contract will become onerous to the Capitals.
Why? I have several reasons. The first is that the NHL isnt slowing down any time soon. The game continues to speed up, and while Wilson has been able to adapt and continue to produce, will that continue into his mid-thirties?
Maybe his teammate, Alex Ovechkin, has given the Capitals false hope in this area. At 37 years old, Washingtons top sniper is still filling the net to the tune of 40-50 tucks a year. But lets face it: Ovi might be a cyborg. Hes been one of the NHLs most durable players over the course of his career, and his goal production has been freakishly consistent.
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