Tom “bacon bits” Wilson has been having a career season, and that’s just on the ice. Off it, Wilson has been stepping up to the mark as a leader, helping and guiding the young call-ups, as well as other additions to the team.

That leadership potential hasn’t gone unnoticed by Capitals head coach Barry Trotz. In the same interview with the Sport Junkies on 106.7 The Fan, where Trotz discussed Shane Gersich’s future role with the team, he also spoke highly about Wilson’s contributions.

“Tom Wilson. He’s [been] one of my favorites since I got here,” Trotz said to the Junkies. “I just see the young man growing as a leader. As a player, he still plays with an edge. He’s one of the rare guys in this league who is tough, who can produce offensively, who keeps growing. He’s got leaderships skills.”

That was a sentiment shared by The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan, back in early March. Khurshudyan also stated at the time that “a combo” of the team, fans and coaches felt the same way. With Trotz’s latest comments to the Junkies, that would appear to hold some truth to it.

You’re not the only one with that opinion. Think Wilson is definitely future captain material. https://t.co/r2T7IFjReF

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 14, 2018

Trotz went on to relate comments made by Ken Hitchcock, head coach of the Dallas Stars, which were said to Trotz following a matchup against them.

“Tom had a particularly good game. Physically took their top guys out of the game with his play, and his physicality, and his speed,” Trotz said of Wilson’s performance. “When a coach that’s a Hall of Fame coach, like Hitchcock, goes, ‘there’s a player that took our whole team out of the game.’ That says a lot about the player when he’s on.”

Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk