Photo credit: Chris Gordon

Earlier in the week, George McPhee told the media he had no interest in inviting junior players to training camp. “There’s no sense… in that sort of thing because they wouldn’t be able to make our team right now anyway.” After Brooks Laich returned to camp with what appears to be a groin injury and Nicklas Backstrom still regaining form after suffering a neck injury, a depth forward or two couldn’t hurt.

That’s why on Thursday, McPhee announced that Tom Wilson, the 16th overall pick of the 2012 NHL draft, would be coming to camp after all.

Since being left off of Canada’s 2013 World Junior Championship team, Wilson has played like a man possessed, riding an eight-game point-scoring streak. In that span, Wilson has recorded six goals and six assists. In his last game with the Plymouth Whalers before traveling to Washington — a 4-2 triumph over the Brampton Battalion, Wilson had a goal and an assist.

Wilson has averaged a point-per-game so far this season, tallying 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 31 games. He had 27 points in 49 games last season.

It’s Wilson’s physicality, which has drawn comparisons to Milan Lucic, that sets him apart. The six-foot, four-inch behemoth has broken his knuckle twice in fights and routinely lands big hits on opposing players. He has 59 penalty minutes so far this year and has dropped mitts three times.

During a recent game when Wilson was awarded with the hit of the night, Whalers commentators gave him an awesome nickname.

Ladies and gentleman, say hello to The Ten Train. Why? Because Wilson wears number ten and The Ten Train always arrives on time. Choo choo! (That Thomas The Tank Engine nickname probably isn’t going to stick. Not tough enough.)

Wilson will arrive in Washington on Saturday while arguably playing the best hockey of his young career. If he continues his stellar play in training camp, it’s not out of the question that Wilson could stick with the team for a few games: the Caps could play the 18-year-old in as many as six NHL games this season without him playing away the first year of an entry-level contract.

So let’s see what happens with The Ten Train in camp. And gosh, I really need to honor this nickname with a t-shirt.

Additional reporting by Fedor Fedin.

Photo credit: Panini America

About a half an hour after the Capitals selected Filip Forsberg at number 11, they had several sexy options at number 16. Two talented Finns were still available in Tuomo Teravainen and Olli Maatta, while PK Subban’s brother Malcolm was also still without a team.

Instead the Caps went a little off the board (THN #25) and drafted six-foot, four-inch right-wing Thomas Wilson.

Photo credit: Bruce Bennett

“In the playoffs, we made a note after one of the games,” Capitals GM George McPhee said. “It was to remember these games when we’re at the draft. Remember how intense they are, how demanding they are, how physical they are, and make sure we get someone who wants to play in that kind of stuff.”

In Wilson, McPhee gets exactly that.

If you skim through Wilson’s favorites list on NHL.com, you quickly understand what kind of hockey he enjoys. His favorite sport other than hockey? rugby; his favorite movie? Green Street Hooligans; and his favorite superhero? Superman.

Perhaps most intriguingly, the player he wants to model his game after is Milan Lucic.

In 49 games for the Plymouth Whalers during an injury-plagued 2011-12 season, Wilson recorded 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists), 141 penalty minutes, and a plus-17 rating. In the playoffs he showed off his scoring touch, adding 13 points (7 goals, 6 assists) in 13 post-season contests when several of his talented teammates were felled due to injury. Wilson also was voted as the ‘Best Body Checker’ in the OHL’s 2012 Western Conference Coaches Poll and was a runner up for the ‘Hardest Worker’ distinction.

The behemoth winger is certainly not afraid to drop the gloves, with 18 fights already in his young career. In fact, he impressed scouts when he broke his knuckle in a fight against fellow draft pick Dalton Thrower at last year’s CHL Top Prospects game.

“There’s so many talented players,” Wilson said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press. “I was just really trying to separate myself. My physical play could do that for me, and I think it did do that. It showed I was working hard and could play that game.”

Wilson also wowed at the scouting combine, finishing in the top ten of almost every power category, including recording the fourth-best result time in the punishing V02 Max bike test.

“You can find guys that are tough,” McPhee explained. “But if they can’t play, what good are they? This kid seems to be that rare combination these days of a guy who is tough but can play. Worst case scenario he plays on the fourth line. If he develops properly, he could be a third, second line player.”

Wilson came highly recommended by former Caps coach Dale Hunter, who saw the winger up close and personal many times last season as a coach of the London Knights. When McPhee and Hunter met up during the morning of Day 1, McPhee was left with one message. “Dale likes [this kid] a lot.”

Wilson will participate in Caps Development Camp, which will be held the second week of July. Then it’ll be off to training camp in September.

“I had (Ovechkin’s) jersey growing up,” Wilson said. “It’s gonna be really cool to meet him.”

Videos

Highlights of Wilson’s goals. Oh god, Linkin Park.

Wilson fights Ben Thomas in the playoffs to stick up for one of his injured teammates.

Minute-long bout with Austen Brassard.

Wilson fights Joseph Cramarossa after he runs one of his teammates.

Wilson meets with the media after being drafted by the Capitals.

Wilson talks with Mike Vogel.

[Editor's note: You are now reading Part Two of Fedor's series on the draft. If you missed Part One, all about available centers, well then this link right here leaves you with no excuse.]

Despite Caps fans clamoring for another top six center, the Caps could certainly use one or two more wingers in the near future. With Kuznetsov’s delayed arrival and the likely departure of Alexander Semin, there’s a hole in the flanks. With the picks they have, the Caps could select a player who could contribute on the second line– particularly if they switch back to the fast-paced style of play that George McPhee hinted at during a pre-draft meeting with the media.

In their NHL line-up, the Caps currently have Alex Ovechkin, Jason Chimera, and Matt Hendricks on the left wing; and Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward on the right wing. The Caps’ top prospect is Stanislav Galiev at left and Evgeny Kuznetsov, somewhere far away, at right.

So who might be available at the number 11 spot?

Photo credit: Juha Sorri/Lehtikuva

Teuvo Teravainen, Jokerit, SM-Liiga, 5’11″, 165 lbs. Often compared to the Oilers’ Ales Hemsky, Teravainen possesses stickhandling and passing skills unusual for a winger. Though Teravainen mostly plays on the right wing, he can play center as well. He played at the highest level of Finnish club hockey this past season despite being one of the youngest 2012 draft-eligible players. Like many European prospects, strength is a concern for the young Finn.

Rankings: TSN: No. 7, NHL Central Scouting: 2 EU skaters, International Scouting Services: No. 9, The Hockey News: No. 12, Button: No. 5

Photo credit: Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

Sebastian Collberg, Frolunda, Elitserien, 5’11″, 176 lbs. Another skilled player from Sweden with slick hands and nice shot. He is a little undersized, but raised his stock during two international tournaments (U-18 and U-20 World Juniors). He wasn’t very efficient on offense in the SEL, but he still peaked into the top-15 of most rankings. Collberg, who plays right wing, needs to improve his physical play and bulk up.

Rankings: TSN: No. 27, NHL Central Scouting: 3 EU skaters, International Scouting Services: No. 13, The Hockey News: No. 14, Button: No. 27

And who might be available at number 16?

Photo credit: Plymouth Whalers

Thomas Wilson, Plymouth Whalers, OHL, 6’4″, 203 lbs. One of the most physically dominant players in the draft, Wilson was maybe the best player of the NHL Combine tests, cracking the top-10 in 17 of 29 events. A right winger, Wilson models his style play off the Bruins’ power forward Milan Lucic, playing a heavy-hitting, hard-nosed hockey without becoming an offensive liability. Though his stats with the Plymouth Whalers were far from fantastic, he stepped it up in the playoffs, becoming a point-per-game player.

Rankings: TSN: No. 18, NHL Central Scouting: 15 NA skaters, International Scouting Services: No. 17, The Hockey News: No. 25, Button: No. 21

Photo credit: Johanna Lundberg/Djurgardens IF

Pontus Aberg, Djurgarden, Elitserien, 5’11″, 194 lbs. A versatile winger, Aberg was more successful than Collberg at the elite pro level of Swedish hockey because of his blazing speed. Aberg works very hard and– despite being less than six feet tall– weighs 194 pounds, which is not bad for an 18-year old. More of a shooter than passer, he’ll need to become a more well-rounded player to get a spot on the NHL roster.

Rankings: TSN: No. 37, NHL Central Scouting: 6 EU skaters, International Scouting Services: No. 20, The Hockey News: No. 22, Button: No. 33

Photo credit: Edmonton Oil Kings

Henrik Samuelsson, Edmonton Oil Kings, 6’2″, 195 lbs. Another right winger, Samuelsson saw his stock rise after he left the Swedish Elite League’s MODO to go play for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Western Hockey League. Pretty big for his age, he’s also shown that he can be productive in the North American style of play during some glimpses late in the regular season and during the Oil Kings’ playoff run. Warning: he’s the son of Ulf Samuelsson.

Rankings: TSN: No. 36, NHL Central Scouting: 75 NA skaters, International Scouting Services: No. 27, The Hockey News: No. 50, Button: No. 29