Tom Wilson Delivers Another Questionable Hit, NHL Will Investigate

TheSportster

By Jim Parsons

Published Dec 1, 2018

On Friday, often suspended Tom Wilson delivered another questionable hit to an NHL player. The hit might not be illegal, but it will be investigated.

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) is escorted by an official off the ice after he checked St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist, on ice at back center, during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

On Friday, often suspended Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson delivered another questionable hit to an NHL player. In the end, the hit might not be deemed illegal, but it will be investigated by the NHL and Wilson will almost certainly face a suspension.

The hit came during Friday's game against the New Jersey Devils when Wilson hit Brett Seney from behind. As Seney turned away, Wilson came in late, his shoulder landing directly to the right side of Seney's head and knocking him down to the ground. To those defending Wilson, they're calling the hit legal but late. Those not defending Wilson are calling this another example of a player who can't control himself, taking liberties on his opponents. The words nasty, dirty and idiotic have been connected to the play.

You can see the hit in the video below:

During the game, the play was ruled as a check to the head and Wilson was given a match penalty. That will be enough for NHL, who has suspended Wilson in the past for similar infractions, to have a close look and likely bring the hammer down in terms of a future suspension, potentially for the remainder of the NHL season.

For Wilson, a player who has only played a handful of games since serving a 14-game suspension for an illegal hit on the Blues’ Oskar Sundqvist during the preseason, this might be the final straw, even if the hit is not deemed egregious. He's a player that is being closely watched as a repeat offender and another suspension could come with hefty time and potentially give the Washington Capitals pause for keeping him as part of the team.

What This Means

Certainly, there will be questions about whether or not the game has time for a player like Wilson. His coach, Todd Reirden suggested Wilson wasn't even trying to make a hit, but that likely won't matter to the NHL much. Any other player might get the benefit of the doubt. Not Wilson, who even if he was trying to avoid the contact, has too many strikes against him to be looked at as someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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