Tom Wilson suspension history: Capitals forward suspended 6 times, fined 3 times

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson is no stranger to the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

Wilson has been suspended six times and fined another three times for crossing the line with his physical play.

His most recent suspension came on March 22, 2024, when he was suspended six games for high-sticking Toronto’s Noah Gregor.

Since the start of the 2013-14 season, Wilson has been the most-penalized player in the regular season with 1,419 penalty minutes, through games played on March 21, 2024. (Vancouver Canucks left winger Antoine Roussel, who last played in the 2021-22 season, and Boston Bruins winger Pat Maroon are tied for second with 978).

Here’s a look at all of Wilson’s suspensions and fines:

Sept. 22, 2017

Wilson was suspended for two preseason games for interference for a late hit along the boards on St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas during an exhibition game. Wilson was not assessed a penalty for the hit during the game. Besides coming more than a second after Thomas lost control of the puck, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety cited the “predatory nature” of the hit.

“I didn’t go through it; I saw it real briefly just on the monitor,” then Capitals coach Barry Trotz said of the hit. “I didn’t think anything of it, but obviously they did. And they watch that a lot closer than we do. I was a little surprised. But whatever decision that they have, we’ll handle it.”

Watch more: NHL’s suspension explanation

Oct. 1, 2017

Wilson was suspended for four games for boarding Blues forward Samuel Blais in both teams’ final preseason game. Wilson hit Blais from behind and drove him into the boards. Wilson received a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. This infraction, just nine days after his first suspendable hit, earned Wilson the repeat offender tag.

“For the majority of the past four seasons, you watch pretty much every one of my hits in frame by frame, tenth by tenth seconds, and you can’t find one thing that’s wrong with it,” Wilson told the Washington Post. “They’re textbook body checks broken down even slow. You have to trust yourself. It’s such a fast game.

“That being said, you know what, (being out of the lineup) wasn’t a good feeling. Maybe when I’m approaching a hit, think about it a little more and make sure, 100%, that the outcome is going to be clean and make sure the guy’s going to be in a good spot after I hit him and take into account all of those things.”

The suspension meant Wilson had to forfeit $97,560.96 in salary.

Watch more: NHL’s suspension explanation

May 1, 2018

The NHL handed Wilson a three-game suspension for an illegal head check for his hit that broke the jaw of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese in a playoff game. The league cited avoidable head contact, with Wilson’s left shoulder making the primary hit on Aston-Reese’s jaw.

“It’s a high hit. What else can I say? It’s a high hit,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said after the game, adding: “At some point we would hope that the league might do something.”

Watch more: NHL’s suspension explanation

Sept. 30, 2018

Wilson received his biggest suspension — 20 games — for an illegal hit to the head of Blues center Oskar Sundqvist. The head was the main point of contact by Wilson, with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety saying the head contact was avoidable.

It was Wilson’s fourth suspension in 105 games, what the league called an “unprecedented frequency,” and led to one of the longest suspensions in NHL history.

“It’s obviously a pretty bad hit,” Sundqvist told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “People saying that he hit my shoulder — he hit my head. I think you can avoid that hit.”

This suspension was costly for Wilson, who lost $1,260,162.60 in salary.

Watch more: NHL’s suspension explanation

March 6, 2021

The NHL gave Wilson a seven-game suspension for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo. The NHL said Wilson’s hit on Carlo was high, “driving him violently into the glass,” but also acknowledged it was close to borderline. “What separates this hit from others is the direct and significant contact to a defenseless player’s face and head, causing a violent impact with the glass,” the league said while also referencing his significant history of infractions.

After the game, Capitals players said they didn’t believe the hit merited a seven-game suspension.

“First of all, no one wants a hurt player,” Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin said afterward. “I think it’s kind of joke because we was talking to refs after the first period and he said like ‘I don’t think it was even two minutes. It was hard hit.’ On the ice, no call on the play. Yeah, the player get hurt and it sucks, but I think when you play hockey you have to be ready for that. You have to know who’s on the ice.”

The seven-game suspension cost Wilson $311,781.61 in salary.

Watch more: NHL’s suspension explanation

March 20, 2024

Wilson received a double-minor for high sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor, but the NHL decided it was worth a six-game suspensiont.

Gregor said Wilson apologized immediately after the play.

“I don’t think he’s trying to slash a guy in the face,” Gregor told tsn.ca. “I don’t think anyone in the league is ever trying to do that. Probably a little reckless with the stick and unfortunately got me, but I’m fine.

“The league will handle it.”

The six-game suspension will cost Wilson $161,458.32, according to The Athletic.

Tom Wilson has been suspended 6 games for this high stick pic.twitter.com/Zllu36cS9l

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 22, 2024

FINES

March 19, 2015

Wilson was fined $2,000 for diving/embellishment during a game against the Minnesota Wild. The Wild’s Zach Parise shoved Wilson down to the ice, with Wilson receiving a two-minute penalty for embellishment. He had received a warning a few weeks earlier for an incident on March 1.

April 28, 2016

Wilson was fined $2,403.67 for a knee-on-knee hit on Penguins forward Conor Sheary during a playoff game. Wilson appeared to be heading to the bench when he changed directions to hit Sheary.

“I play the game hard,” Wilson said at the time. “When you play the game that way, you’re going to be under the microscope. You’re finishing checks hard, and up until this one, I’ve been completely off the books. I’ve hit very hard but very legal. … I’m not going to change the way I play. I’ve got to trust my instincts.”

May 3, 2021

Wilson was fined $5,000 — the maximum allowed by the CBA — for roughing Pavel Buchnevich during an altercation with the New York Rangers.

Wilson received a double-minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct after he appeared to punch Buchnevich, who was face down on the ice. He also threw the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin down to the ice, with some saying by Panarin’s hair.

“I thought it was just a scrum,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said after the game. “Physical play. There was something going on originally with the goalie and jamming at the goalie. We had a bunch of players jump in there.”

Players and coaches from the Rangers disagreed.

“I figure you should have some more respect for the game and for the players,” Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said of Wilson. “I don’t honestly know where to start. It’s just horrible. Zero respect. I don’t know why I’m surprised, but yeah, just horrible.”