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Capitals re-sign Tom Wilson to six-year deal worth $5.17 million annually

By Ian Oland

 8 Comments

July 27, 2018 9:20 pm

The Washington Capitals and restricted free agent Tom Wilson have finally come to an agreement. Willy Baby is going to remain in DC for a very long time.

Friday night, a little after 9 pm, the Capitals announced that Wilson and the team had agreed on a six year, $31 million contract that will keep Tom in the nation’s capital until he’s 30.

“Tom is an invaluable member of our team and we are pleased that he will play a great part in our foreseeable future,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said in a release. “Tom is a unique player in this League. At 24 years of age, he has an impressive amount of experience and we believe that he will only continue to grow and improve as a player. With his ability to play in virtually any game situation, teams need players like Tom in order to succeed in the NHL.”

Wilson recorded career highs in goals (14), assists (21), and points (35) after finding a niche on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. View his 2017-18 season review. The deal buys up four years of Wilson’s UFA years (he’s a UFA in two seasons) and slots him as a top sixer by salary. Wilson’s $5.17 million salary ranks him fifth among all forwards. His AAV trails only Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, and TJ Oshie. He’s now overall the eighth highest paid player on the team.

Wilson’s deal will pay him more in signing bonuses ($16m) than actual salary ($15). Wilson also gets a modified no-trade clause in years three to six of the deal. Cap Friendly has the breakdown.

During the offseason, both Wilson’s representation and Brian MacLellan wanted a long term pact. Now they’ve got it.

Washington’s offseason is officially over.

More from the Capitals:

The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Tom Wilson to a six-year contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Wilson’s contract will carry an average annual value of $5.17 million.

Wilson, 24, recorded 35 points last season (14g, 21a), a career high, and his 14 goals doubled his previous season high of seven set in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 season. Wilson recorded 33 points at even strength, one on the power play and one shorthanded. The Toronto native set career highs in shots (123), time on ice per game (15:59) and blocked shots (51). Wilson’s 50.52 shot attempt percentage at five-on-five (1,065 shot attempts for, 1,044 against) was the second-highest single season total of his career and ranked fourth among Capitals forwards. Additionally, the 6’4″, 218-pound forward recorded 134:43 on the penalty kill, the third-most among Capitals forwards.

During the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run, Wilson set career highs in both goals (five) and assists (10). Wilson recorded a point in 11 of his 21 playoff games, including four multi-point efforts and three points (2g, 1a) in the Capitals’ five Stanley Cup Final games against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Wilson also recorded 187 penalty minutes last season, which made him the only player over the last eight seasons to record at least 35 points and 185 penalty minutes. Wilson’s 187 penalty minutes ranked second in the NHL, and his 804 total penalty minutes since his 2013-14 rookie season lead the NHL. Additionally, Wilson drew 37 minor penalties during the 2017-18 season, the third-most in the NHL. Since the 2013-14 season, Wilson has drawn 178 minor penalties, the second-most in the NHL during that span (Nazem Kadri: 201), and his 2.26 drawn penalties per 60 minutes of play ranks first among all skaters with at least 150 games played since the 2013-14 season.

Wilson was selected by the Capitals in the first round, 16th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft. He has earned 104 points (35g, 69a) in 391 career NHL games with Washington. Of the 2012 draft class, Wilson ranks second among forwards in games played and seventh in points.

In the 2016-17 season, Wilson recorded 19 points (7g, 12a) in 82 games. Wilson made his NHL debut in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New York Rangers on March 10, 2013. He is one of just four players in franchise history to make his NHL debut during the playoffs (Chris Felix: 1988; Grant Jennings: 1988; Trent Whitfield: 2000).

Internationally, Wilson has represented Team Canada at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, earning a gold medal after recording three goals in five games. Additionally, Wilson won a gold medal with Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.