The Washington Capitals announced forward Tom Wilson underwent a successful surgery for a torn ACL in his right knee. Wilson is expected to be out 6-8 months.
The news confirms what many had suspected. Wilson was injured May 3 in Game 1 of the Capitals’ first-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers.
Wilson scored the series’ opening goal. However, midway through the period he left the bench area and headed back to the locker room. He returned to the bench and later skated around the ice during a timeout in the second period. Yet, he never returned to either the game nor the series.
After the Capitals by the Panthers in six games, Wilson spoke to some degree with reporters about his injury.
At the time Tom Wilson revealed his suffered a “significant” knee injury. When asked about his ACL, Wilson wouldn’t elaborate. He added he was working and trying to get back into the series.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLallen admitted Wilson wouldn’t have been able to return to the series.
Wilson did acknowledge it would be some time before he got back on the ice, saying “My summer sucks now.”
Wilson now faces a long road ahead. The timetable of 6-8 months for recovery means Wilson will be out until the earliest November and as late as January. So the expectation is he will miss some portion of next season.
