Tom Wilson may have turned over a new leaf this offseason, or perhaps the intensity of preseason games is just much lower than we all think.
Friday, during the second period of the Washington Capitals’ exhibition game against the Boston Bruins, Wilson randomly ended up with two hockey sticks in his hands like he was Alex Ovechkin from the 2009 Breakaway Challenge.
Video (via @capsreplays)
The play happened as Wilson tried to catch a pass from the halfwall and carry the puck to the middle of the ice. Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov stepped up and bumped Wilson off the puck, but as the two giants collided, lumber was exchanged.
Instead of being his normally sassy self, Wilson just skated right over to Zadorov and handed his stick back like a true gentleman.
The use of the word gentleman here is absolutely intentional, as I think Wilson may be trying to add a new trophy to his trophy case: the Lady Byng.
The Lady Byng Trophy is awarded annually to the “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
Imagine if Tom, who already warns players before he hits them, extended a hand and helped players up after walloping them with a huge open-ice hit. Or instead of trash-talking, Wilson hugs his mean-spirited opponents until they relent, but not in that violent way where he’s trying to crush their insides. Maybe being a father has changed Tom, and this is just who he is now, a guy trying to have fun out there and make sure nobody gets hurt.
I’m dubious. Because when I think of Tom, these are the types of antics I think of.
But maybe this is the start of something.
