It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours as we near the Stanley Cup Final. This year’s post-season didn’t include the Washington Capitals for the first time since 2013. Washington will undergo some changes with a new head coach replacing Peter Laviolette. However, there will be some perennial fixtures remaining with the club. Alex Ovechkin is trying to chase down Wayne Gretzky‘s scoring record. One other Capitals stalwart is Tom Wilson. Today’s NHL rumours deals with a Tom Wilson extension.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Tom Wilson Extension Update
Rumour: Sammi Silber of The Hockey News spoke to Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan about Wilson’s future. Both sides want to work with each other and get a new deal done. The 6-foot-4-inch power forward’s contract is up at the end of the next season. However, the two sides can sign an extension after July 1. Both management and Wilson love working together and Wilson said he won’t play hardball.
The Capitals will face an offseason filled with change as the team looks to get younger and faster while revamping the top-6.
However, one player that won't — and shouldn't — be part of that change is Tom Wilson.https://t.co/ZVcu7Z4rrB
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) May 19, 2023
Wilson may be a polarizing player, but there’s no denying he’s a major contributor to the Capitals. He missed part of the 2022-23 season with an ACL tear and Washington missed him in the lineup. The Toronto native is a multiple-time 20-goal scorer and provides an edge to his game. He’s often been seen on lines with Ovechkin providing muscle and goals.
Can the Caps Get a Tom Wilson Extension Done?
It’s pretty likely that Wilson won’t hit the open market. Picturing Wilson in a different sweater is tough to picture. Silber mentioned that Wilson could likely be a future captain once Ovechkin does retire.
Wilson does a little bit of everything for the Capitals in the physical and offensive game. There was some distant chatter that he could be traded, but that seems unlikely. Expect a deal to get done this summer and possible bump in pay from his over $5 million cap hit.
Main photo by: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
