The Washington Capitals are normally tight-lipped about injuries, but they let a previously unknown upper-body injury slip in a new video focusing on Tom Wilson off the ice.
The video starts with nearly six minutes of Wilson talking while driving his car. But business picks up when he interacts with his teammates, Braden Holtby and Nicklas Backstrom, at a charity event at Hendley Elementary School.
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The video goes behind-the-scenes of Elliot in the Morning’s So Kids Can charity event where they build a gymnasium. We pick up at the very beginning when Wilson attempts to parallel park on camera.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this,” Wilson says skeptically. “You think I’m driving a Mini Cooper? I already did two parallel parks on camera today. Nailed it. Hopefully, I didn’t speak too soon.”
Wilson parks and appears to not be very close to the sidewalk.
“I did speak too soon,” Wilson says. “I got cocky. It’s on an angle too.”
Wilson was the first of three Capitals players to donate their time at the event. Also joining him at the elementary school are Braden Holtby and Nicklas Backstrom.
“There he is!” Wilson says when he notices Holtby has arrived.
The Holtbeast chooses to park on the sidewalk. There’s almost no parking available and Backstrom trails behind him.
Screenshot: @Capitals
“That’s a vehicle made for offroading! Holts is the man. You should get this on film. Wow,” Wilson adds.
“That’s what it’s built for,” Holtby retorts.
“The Jeep does it all, just like Holts,” Wilson jokes.
“I was trying to make a spot for Nick,” Holtby explains.
“He’s being a good teammate,” Wilson says.
Several seconds later, Backstrom parks. Not where Holtby intended.
“Nick found a perfect spot right in the front so now I’m on a hill,” Holtby says. “Whatever Nick.”
Once the three gather in front of Hendley Elementary and get their battle plans, they interact and get caught up on life.
“What’d you do?” Holtby asks Backstrom.
“I got my wisdom teeth removed,” the 31-year-old Backstrom says matter-of-factly.
“Just now??” Holtby asks incredulously.
“No. Last night,” Backstrom says.
“You’re not swollen at all,” Holtby replies. “That’s good.”
“It’s sore, eh?” Wilson asks.
“It’s all right, actually,” Backstrom says.
“Mine was so bad,” Wilson says.
So in summary Nicklas Backstrom did a charity event less than 24 hours after getting his wisdom teeth out at age 31. Tom Wilson, one of the most feared enforcers in the NHL, struggled when he got his out.
Amazing.
