How Tom Wilson Pulled Off A Career Year & Further Established Himself As The 'Heart & Soul' Of The Capitals
The Capitals alternate captain made noise with 33 goals and 32 assists this past season while averaging the highest ice time of his career yet.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Tom Wilson doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking about himself.
After all, even before joining the Washington Capitals, he’s had one mentality when it comes to the game of hockey, and that’s the team above all.
That is exactly what led him to a career year as he continues to come into his own in D.C.
“Honestly, I just try to come to the rink and help the team,” Wilson said. “That’s something from Day 1 as a rookie until now that has been the foundation of who I want to be as a player and who I want to be as a teammate.”
In 81 games this season, Wilson took a huge step forward, putting up a personal-high 33 goals and 32 assists for 65 points, along with a plus/minus of plus-10. He also led D.C. with 233 hits and played key minutes on special teams while averaging 18:44 minutes per night, the highest total of his still-young career.
“When we need a spark, he's there to provide it. You need a big player or a big goal, he's always the one doing it,” Connor McMichael said of his linemate. “Can't say enough good things."
He does more than just produce, though. He was one of the team’s full-time alternate captains this season and took the role seriously, leading the charge on and off the ice. If his team was struggling, he’d be the one to go out and try to set the tone. In the room, his voice carried.
“He’s the type of guy that literally can change momentum in games, in most ways of probably anyone in the league,” John Carlson said.
“He’s the heart and soul of this organization, right?” goaltender Logan Thompson added. “When he’s making plays, big hits, we feed off that… we love him.”
For Wilson, his identity as a leader and as a player have been years in the making, and a reflection of what he hopes to bring to the table on a nightly basis.
“(It’s about) just leaving it all out there. As your responsibility and your role grows, you get more thrown your way and you try and do your best with it,” Wilson said, adding, “There’s an expectation in our room, and something I strive to do is just play as hard as (I) can.”
He also credited captain Alex Ovechkin for helping set the example and standard to follow.
"It starts with Ovi," Wilson said. "He goes out there and sets the tone every night, and I've been able to learn a lot from him over the years and just willingness to give to the team.
“Try and take in anything you can from a legend,” Wilson noted.
Going forward in his career, Wilson — the captain in waiting — is ready to continue to pave the way for his teammates, and is confident his approach will keep leading him to new heights.
“The willingness to kind of do anything for the team will keep you moving in the right direction,” Wilson said.
