A few years ago, Tom Wilson and Andre Burakovsky lived together and “were always wrestling,” according to Michael Latta. Fast forward to Tuesday, Tom is now training Young Dre in combat.

With Wilson’s personal trainer Jorge Blanco in town, several Capitals players including Wilson, Burakovsky, and Devante Smith-Pelly participated in sparring sessions under Blanco’s tutelage at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

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“Always nice to get a session in with @82Spaniard as the offseason comes to an end,” Wilson wrote on Instagram.

Wilson and Burakovsky sparred together. The Swedish forward landed several punches that I can only describe as not angry.

Later, Wilson – a veteran of 63 NHL fights – violently threw hands with his trainer.

This continues the transformation of Andre Burakovsky into a terrifying enforcer. Last season, Dre got in his first career fight with Blake Coleman, avenging a hit to Dmitry Orlov.

“He was showing me highlights on the bus after,” Wilson said of the fight then.

“I’ve toughened him up over the course of three or four years,” Wilson continued. “He’s like a little brother He pokes you and pokes you and you kind of get in a bit of a tussle. I’d like to take some credit for toughening him up and making sure he was ready for that first bout.”

Now after an intense offseason that has seen the Burracuda bulk up, I have a word of advice for the rest of the NHL: Do not mess with this man.

I guess all that wrestling finally paid off @andreburakovsky #heavy.

— Michael Latta (@Latta17) October 14, 2017