It appears certain that Tom Wilson is going to be suspended. Now it’s just a matter of how many games it will be.
Sunday night, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Wilson has been offered an in-person hearing for his illegal check of the head to the Blues’ Oskar Sundqvist.
Washington’s Tom Wilson has been offered an in-person hearing for an Illegal Check to the Head on St. Louis’ Oskar Sundqvist. Date and time TBD.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 1, 2018
This is notable because that means Wilson will likely be suspended six games or more.
Hearings
Fines: Not required if less than $5,000; phone hearing if over $5,000. Suspensions: Phone if up to five games; suspensions of six games or more require an in-person hearing be offered. If a player waives his right to an in-person hearing, he may still receive a suspension of six games or more via phone hearing.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman weighed in as well.
Offering Wilson an in-person hearing gives NHL the option to suspend for more than 5 games. Keys to this hearing will be 1) is the head the main point of contact and 2) was it avoidable.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 1, 2018
Last season, Wilson was suspended four preseason games and two regular season games after two bad hits in the preseason. The first-line forward was also suspended three games in the Stanley Cup playoffs for a head hit on Zach Aston-Reese.
10/1 update: Wilson’s hearing will be Wednesday morning in New York City.
Tom Wilson’s in-person hearing will be held Wednesday morning at the NHL’s New York office.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 1, 2018
