Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson is a polarizing player. If you’re a Capitals fan you love him. If you’re a fan of any other NHL team, your blood boils at the sight of Wilson.
Wilson has a reputation of laying big hits. Sometimes they’re deemed unnecessary and the league steps in and disciplines him. He has been suspended five times during his nine-year NHL career.
During Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins, Wilson was back at delivering a bone crushing hit. This time Bruins forward Anton Blidh was the victim.
Blidh was slow getting up and needed assistance from trainers. He left the game and did not return.
Bruins fans packed inside of Boston’s TD Garden let Wilson know how they felt.
While Boston was in an uproar, the rest of the NHL world reacted to Wilson’s monstrous hit. However, there were more positive reactions towards Wilson than expected considering his history.
Tom Wilson won’t get the benefit of the doubt from a great deal of hockey fans thanks to his checkered past. Yet, his latest huge hit was deemed clean by the majority of NHL Twitter.
Let’s see if the NHL Department of Player Safety agrees. Wilson’s teammate and Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov was suspended two games earlier on Thursday for kneeing Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers.
