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Wilson is going to Hershey, and it’s not for a rehab/conditioning stint.

Tom Wilson played 82 games for the Capitals in his rookie season, but he was given remarkably little opportunity to excel. With fewer than eight minutes a night, Wilson scored just three goals and seven assists on the bottom line, though he did rack up 151 penalty minutes.

Things looked bright for Wilson’s sophomore season, but an ankle injury in July set him back significantly. Now, having missed camp and the first two weeks of the season, Wilson is finally ready to return to hockey …but he’ll be doing it with the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

(Wilson was not eligible to play for the Bears last season.)

Caps writer Mike Vogel has pointed out that this is not a rehab stint; Wilson has been re-assigned to Hershey. He will make his debut this weekend.

When will see Wilson back in Caps red? Your guess is a good as ours, though Vogel doesn’t think it’ll be a long-term thing.

Doubt he stays there past weekend. @wamps6789 will Wilson get called back up like a conditioning assignment or will he stay down awhile

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) October 20, 2014

Press release city:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 20, 2014

Capitals Re-assign Wilson to Hershey

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-assigned right wing Tom Wilson to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Wilson, who missed the first five games of this season with a lower-body injury, is expected to make his 2014-15 season debut this weekend with the Bears.

Wilson, 20, registered 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and 151 penalty minutes in 82 games with the Capitals last season. The 6’4”, 207-pound right wing made his NHL regular-season debut on Oct. 1, 2013 at Chicago and registered his first NHL goal and point on Nov. 5, 2013 against the Islanders. Wilson finished the 2013-14 season ranked seventh in the NHL in penalty minutes and third among NHL rookies and Washington skaters in hits (197). The Toronto native was one of three NHL rookies to appear in all 82 games last season (Nathan MacKinnon, Tyler Johnson)