Skating in just the second NHL game of his career, Tom Wilson immediately saw his role on the team expanded. Wilson got a lot more ice time and more of the same with: big hits and strong skating.

For the most part, at least. Wilson lost a skate blade after a collision with Ryan McDonagh and had to hobble his hulking frame back to the bench like a goofball.

GIFs

The blade falls off, see bottom right corner of the screen. (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

Ouch. (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

The struggle. (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

Wilson Laughs. (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

Photo credit: Chris Gordon

It’s been a crazy weekend for Tom Wilson. Friday night, he made his NHL debut in game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Sunday afternoon, he’ll take the ice for his second big league game, this time at the famed Madison Square Garden. It’s a lot of pressure for a guy barely out of high school. How does he handle it?

“It’s unbelievable, a dream come,” he said before his inaugural game. “I’m really excited to hopefully get a nap in and just get to it.”

That plan, it seems, worked out for the 2012 first round draft pick.

“I was pretty nervous,” he said after the game. “I was at the rink and I wasn’t that nervous. Then I got back to the hotel room, had some down time, and it kind of set in, but I was able to nap pretty well so it was good.”

S/T to friend-of-the-blog Amanda for pointing this out to me.

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

Tom Wilson is barely 19 years old. Most kids his age spend their Friday nights drinking at parties in their precious time off from contributing nothing at all to society. Yeah, you know who you are.

Wilson, though, is bettering our world — he’s a hockey player after all — and he made his NHL debut Friday night. Granted, he skated a team low 6:24, but he threw a few nice hits and pushed some Rangers around after the whistle — typical fourth line stuff. His play wasn’t particularly interesting. The game it came in, though, was. The Caps won game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in overtime to take a 3-2 series lead.

“It was unbelievable — chills,” Wilson told me of his debut, repeating a version of that line countless times while standing in the far corner of the Capitals locker room at Verizon Center. “It was everything I imagined; it was a dream come true.”

Wilson, as you know, didn’t conceive himself a member of the Washington’s playoff lineup until a couple days ago. He played in juniors this year, registering 58 points in 48 games with the Plymouth Whalers, before they were cut down in the third round of the postseason by Dale Hunter’s London Knights. Wilson then moved on to Hershey in the middle of their playoff run. He played two games for the Bears, scoring in one. Ian was there at the time and exclaimed, “I would not be surprised if he makes the Capitals out of training camp next season.” Four days later, he was playing for the Caps, after Hershey was eliminated and Martin Erat’s arm smashed into the ice.

“I thought he did great,” head coach Adam Oates said. “Had a few hits, which is what we ask, skated well, fit into the line. It was great to see his enthusiasm.”

The Wilson family was freaking on Friday thanks to two rites of spring — playoff hockey and senior prom. His little brother Jamie was back home in Toronto along with his mother. Wilson’s dad and his older brother Peter, though, grabbed a flight down to DC. They landed just as Wilson had to leave for Verizon Center.

“I saw them, gave them a quick hug, and jumped in the car with Oleksy to come here,” Wilson said after the game. “It was a pretty special day for me and my family.”

By Saturday morning, Peter and his father Kevin were back on a plane to Toronto.

“I hope they had a great time,” Wilson said.

Photo credit: Chris Gordon

Tom Wilson has had a crazy year. He’s played for both the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL and the Hershey Bears of the AHL. Now, after scoring a hat trick with Plymouth a few weeks ago against Dale Hunter’s London Knights and scoring his first professional goal with Hershey Sunday, Wilson will make his NHL debut Friday against the New York Rangers in game five.

The news was first reported by NBC4′s Adam Vingan and confirmed by Wilson himself:

Tom Wilson just said that he will make his NHL debut tonight. #Caps

— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) May 10, 2013

Per Mike Vogel, Wilson becomes the fourth Washington skater of all-time to make his debut during the NHL playoffs:

If Wilson were to make his NHL debut in the Stanley Cup playoffs, he’d be the third Caps player ever to do so, and the first to turn the trick in more than 13 years, since Trent Whitfield on April 17, 2000. Prior to Whitfield, both Chris Felix (on April 10, 1988) and Grant Jennings (April 26, 1988) joined the Caps during the 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The six-foot, four-inch forward will skate on the fourth line with Matt Hendricks and Jay Beagle and wear #43.

Read up on our expansive coverage of Wilson during this season here to get a better idea of what he’s like as a player.

Dream come true! First NHL game tonight against the Rangers. Thanks to everyone for all the support.

— Tom Wilson (@tom_wilso) May 10, 2013

Photo credit: Tom Wilson

Digging up embarrassing photos and videos of new hires and signings is a thing we like to do here at RMNB. Recall last summer, when George McPhee hired Adam Oates as the team’s new head coach we shared video of Oates guest-starring in an episode of Nickelodeon’s GUTS. With 19-year-old Tom Wilson joining the Capitals and potentially making his debut in game five on Friday night, here’s a photo of Wilson fishing as a kid.

Please observe that multi-colored bead necklace Wilson is wearing. I’m going to go out on the limb and say he made it with his own nimble fingers. How else would one build up the hand-eye coordination to punch someone in the face once one grows up? And the kid is ripped. As a kid I was taller than most of my classmates, but I never looked like Rambo.

Congratulations to Tom. Best of luck –whenever you actually play.

The Hershey Bears ended their season last night. Martin Erat might have done that as well when he slammed his wrist into the net. As a result, the Capitals have recalled youngling Tom Wilson and former NHL player Joey Crabb from the Hershey Bears.

Are these our 2013 black aces, or will Wilson or Crabb see some play? Will Aaron Volpatti go from waiver wire to playoff hockey in the span of a few months? Will Wojtek Wolski ever play again?

P.S. Ovi for Lindsay.

From the Capitals:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 9, 2013

Capitals Recall Tom Wilson and Joey Crabb from the Hershey Bears
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled right wings Tom Wilson and Joey Crabb from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Wilson, 19, made his professional debut with Hershey in Game 3 of the AHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal vs. Providence and recorded one goal and six penalty minutes in three playoff games with the Bears. He recently completed his season with Plymouth after helping the Whalers reach the OHL Western Conference Championship Series where they fell to London in five games. Wilson earned OHL Player of the Week honors for the week ending April 21 and collected six goals, two assists and 12 penalty minutes in his last four games of the championship series. He and teammate (and fellow Capitals prospect) Connor Carrick both ranked in the top-10 in playoff scoring when Plymouth was eliminated as Wilson recorded 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) and 41 penalty minutes in his 12 playoff games.

The Toronto native, who was drafted in the first round (16th overall) by the Capitals in the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh, recorded 58 points (23 goals, 35 assists) and 104 penalty minutes in 48 regular season games with Plymouth this season. He ranked fifth on Plymouth in points, tied for sixth in goals and second in penalty minutes despite missing 20 games. The 6’4”, 210-pound forward was recalled on Jan. 12 to participate in the Capitals training camp.

In 2011-12 he collected 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) and 141 penalty minutes in 49 games with Plymouth and added 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 13 OHL playoff games. Wilson 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’ category.

Wilson won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, posting three goals in five games. He also won gold with Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, recording one assist and six penalty minutes in four games. The Capitals signed Wilson to a three-year, entry level contract on July 19, 2012.

Crabb, 30, collected two goals and eight penalty minutes in 26 games with Washington this season and six goals and six assists in 12 games with Hershey. He led the Bears with five goals in five games during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Last season he recorded career highs in goals (11), assists (15), points (26) and games played (67) with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He finished the season ranked 11th on Toronto in points and eighth in goals while his plus-one rating finished tied for fifth on the team. In addition, Crabb recorded three assists in eight games with the United States at the 2012 World Championships.

The Anchorage, Alaska, native has appeared in 170 career NHL games with Atlanta, Toronto and Washington, compiling 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) and 93 penalty minutes. He has collected 184 points (79 goals, 105 assists) in 311 career AHL games with Hershey, Chicago and Toronto. The 6’1”, 190-pound forward won a Calder Cup championship with the Chicago Wolves in 2007-08, posting one goal and five assists in 24 playoff games. Crabb was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the seventh round (226th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft after spending four seasons at Colorado College (NCAA).

Both Wilson and Crabb will participate in today’s 11:30 a.m. Capitals practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Wilson wears No. 43 while Joey Crabb wears No. 15 for Washington.

Photo credit: Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s Kyle Mace

Washington Capitals 2012 first-round pick Tom Wilson has played just two games for the Hershey Bears, but he’s already made a huge impact. After scoring 9 goals (including a hat trick) and 17 points in 12 playoff games with the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers, Wilson scored his first professional goal on Sunday for the Hershey Bears. And it happened because he got under the skin of 2011-12 AHL leading scorer Chris Bourque.

View video of the play here. (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

Early in the second period, Wilson — skating on Hershey’s fourth line — decked the former Capitals draft pick along the boards. Bourque responded by tripping Wilson to the ice, which drew a power play for Hershey.

Video via welshhockeyfan

Bourque and Wilson met again late in the third period. Wilson once again knocked Bourque over after the diminutive forward passed away the puck. Both players got matching minors, Wilson for interference and Bourque for unsportsmanlike conduct (diving).

I nominate this for goal call of the year by the way. It begins at the 4:03 mark. (Video via The Hershey Bears)

When the two penalties expired, the Bears controlled the puck in Providence’s offensive zone. Wilson sprinted towards the net as Julien Brouillette unleashed a shot from the point. Wilson beat the speedy Bourque to the rebound, giving Hershey the lead for the first time and nearly giving Scott Stuccio, the voice of the Bears, an aneurysm.

The goal would have stood up as the game-winner, but the Bears wilted during the stretch, losing to the number one-seeded Providence 5-4 and forcing a fifth and decisive game on Wednesday.

Regardless of the outcome, Hershey Bears Head Coach Mark French was excited about the expanded role Wilson earned in his first two professional games over the weekend.

“I thought Wilson was really good,” French said after the game. “[Saturday] night, his first pro game, we monitored his minutes a little bit. He played about 10. And [Sunday] I thought he looked good again. We elevated him in our line combinations and he responded to that.”

When I asked French about how Wilson, a prospect known for his size, won a foot-race with one of the quickest players on Providence for his goal, French gushed. “I think that’s the reason why people are so high on him,” he said. “He’s obviously got the size and for a big guy he uses it. But as you mentioned, he’s got some underrated speed and puck skills. I think that’s the combination that everybody’s excited about.”

As the game went along, Wilson could also be seen getting into the game another way. Standing on the Hershey bench, Wilson constantly yapped at Providence Bruins players as they came back. He also got in a verbal sparring match with Chris Bourque while in the penalty box. French appreciated the sandpaper Wilson brought to the game.

“He gets involved!,” French exclaimed. “You know, it’s funny because when we had him in Development Camp, there was a part of his game where he liked to get involved in the discussion. I didn’t see it much [Saturday] night, but I assume with him being a little bit more comfortable, he got involved.”

Yes, yes he did. After seeing Wilson’s big night tonight, I would not be surprised if he makes the Capitals out of training camp next season. Despite only being 19-years-old, Wilson is a fiery competitor who skates really well and has good hands. His physical game can be game-changing.

Additional Photos

Photo credit: Sweetest Hockey On Earth’s Kyle Mace

On this very special day, we’re releasing a bunch of new shirts to the RMNB store– and we’re sure you’ll love at least one of them. If you’re into Perreault’s post-game celebrations, The Wagon, or meteors, we’ve got a shirt for you. And if you hate Pennsylvania (and who doesn’t?), we’ve got you covered as well. Seven new shirts in all, in men’s and women’s cuts, all printed on the finest natural synthetic fabrics available.

Wwith Mother’s day coming up, all Women’s tees are 15% off. Just use the coupon code MOTHER2013 during check-out.

We’re real proud of this new batch of shirts. Take a look and let us know what you think!

#PerryCelly T-Shirt

Emotions run high when hockey goes to extra innings. Anything can happen in sudden death overtime, but it seems like one thing always does: Mathieu Perreault freaking out. The #PerryCelly shirt, illustrated by RMNB’s own Rachel Cohen, is your way of commemorating and celebrating along with him.

Buy Here | Full Size Graphic

Wagon T-Shirt

Carrying the Caps like a rickety Conestoga, there’s the ever-reliable Matt Hendricks, whose name has fallen out of fashion in favor of this new one: The Wagon. He’s sturdy and well-worn, like your mom’s Buick Estate, except Hendy does somewhat more more punching and goal-scoring than grocery-getting.

Buy Here | Full Size Graphic

RMNB Space Logo T-Shirt

We’re proud of our ties to space. Sorry: spaaaaaaace. There was the time Igor found ice on Mercury, and then the whole meteor thing that nearly melted our servers. Hockey is now just a side project for us, something to fill the hours before our next space adventure. Wear this shirt if you’re boldly going with us.

Buy Here | Full Size Graphic

The Ten Train Brings the Pain T-Shirt

Tom Wilson wears the #10 jersey in Plymouth. The Whalers announcers dubbed him “The Ten Train” for his railroading hits, which along with grain and dry goods, also bring the pain. Rock The Ten Train shirt so you can tell your friends you were onboard with Wilson first.

Buy Here | Full Size Graphic

Hip-Check 3D T-Shirt

Dmitry Orlov and hipchecks go together like milk and pasta. Also like milk and pasta, Orlov’s hipchecks can be devastating to your health. And while this shirt probably isn’t 3-D even when you wear the glasses, it looks rad in any situation. Disorient your friends all day long!

Buy Here | Full Size Graphic

Pennsylvania Is The Worst State Ever T-Shirt

Pennsylvania is awful. Why is is there a town named Intercourse in PA? Why does driving over the Mason-Dixon Line feel like traveling back in time to an era before pothole-filling technology was invented? Pennsylvania hosts two of the Capitals’ most heated rivals, the Penguins and the Flyers. Let your enmity be known in this lovely shirt, which comes in two variations: retina-burning Philly orange or Pittsburgh powder blue. Also appropriate for ironic or self-loathing Pennsylvanians, because we call agree on point: Hershey rules! (As noted in the small print.)

Buy Here | Full Size Graphic

I Survived The Chelyabinsk Meteor T-Shirt

The Chelyabinsk meteor injured over a thousand people, but most of those were from broken glass and the like. Everyone made it through okay, and now it’s just a wild story with lots of concomitant property damage. And because The World is Wrong, your humble hockey blog was first to cover it all. The “I Survived the Chelyabinsk Meteor and Read About it First on RMNB” shirt is part solemn remembrance of a crazy time and also a really nice way to help us pay for the ridiculous bandwidth expenses that came out of it.

Buy Here | Full Size Graphic

Photo credit: Mike Hensen

After a thrilling third period comeback against the London Knights, the Plymouth Whalers wilted in overtime to Dale Hunter’s crew, 5-4. The game five loss in the OHL’s Western Conference Finals ended Plymouth’s season. The good news for Caps fans is that because of the Whalers early exit, 2012 first-round pick Tom Wilson will be able to make his debut in the Capitals organization imminently.

Way back on March 29th when Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee addressed the media in a 40-minute long fireside chat, he was asked bluntly if he’d like Wilson join the Bears after his season ended in Plymouth. McPhee reponded,”Mm-hmm. Yeah.”

“To bring the kid straight to the NHL — maybe he’s ready for the NHL — but I’d rather him start in Hershey and see how it goes,” McPhee explained. “If he’s good enough to play here, you can make a change. It helps everyone to spend a little time in the minors.”

A few minutes after Plymouth’s loss Friday, the voice of the Bears, Scott Stuccio, confirmed what McPhee said, expecting Wilson to join Hershey in their playoff series against the Providence Bruins.

Would expect Tom Wilson to join @thehersheybears at some point in this series… #noroomonthebusthough

— Scott Stuccio (@ScottStuccio) April 27, 2013

Now that we know where Wilson will play for the rest of this season, the question then becomes, where will Wilson play next year? And that answer is slightly more complicated.

The first thing we know is that Wilson won’t be eligible to start the season in Hershey, even though he will join them in the playoffs this year. It’s because of something called the CHL-AHL agreement. Players under 20-years-old are only eligible to play in the AHL after their season in the CHL is over each year.

Per Prospect Annex:

Specifically, the rule says that if a player played in junior before they were drafted by the NHL, then they have to either be 20 years old by Dec. 31 OR have played four years of junior in order to play in the minors. That second condition rarely comes into effect. It would only apply to players who began in the CHL at age 15.

Since Wilson will turn 20 in March of 2014, he only has two options next season: he can make the Washington Capitals out of training camp, or he will be returned back for one final season in the OHL.

When McPhee was asked in March if he thought Wilson could impress him enough in camp to play in the NHL next year, he stated that it was a possibility. After pointing out several Capitals players who made the jump to the NHL only a year after they got drafted like Nicklas Backstrom, Marcus Johansson, Alex Ovechkin, and John Carlson, McPhee said that for him, the player’s ability –not his age — is what forces his hand.

“As I’ve often said, they make the decision for us,” McPhee said. “If somebody’s ready, we’ll play them. It never hurts them to play a little bit longer at the amateur level. It can hurt them if you play them too early at [the NHL] level.”

If Wilson does begin the season in Washington, he’s allowed to play nine games with the team that year (including the playoffs) before a year of his entry-level contract is burned off.

Regardless of where Wilson ends up, McPhee is excited about him, especially after Wilson score nine goals and 17 points in 12 playoff games.

“He’s going to be a fun player to watch,” the excitable GM in his own right said. “He’s a real competitive kid. Real physical. He’s really improved. He’s done a lot of penalty killing this year. He’s on the power play. And what’s going to make him a real good player is the way he works. He really works hard all night long.”

What another amazing season in the books with such a great group of guys. The past 3 years with @pwhalers family has just flown by!

— Tom Wilson (@tom_wilso) April 27, 2013

Additional reporting by Fedor Fedin.

Photo credit: OHL

After netting a hat trick against the London Knights in game 2 of the OHL Western Conference Finals, Tom Wilson has continued to bolster his status as an elite playoff performer.

Wilson, whose tremendous play in last year’s postseason secured him a spot in the draft’s first round, scored three more goals in the next two games. Both times Wilson’s goals helped to build Plymouth’s comeback efforts, but the Knights took the lead back and won. In both games, the final score was 6-4 London.

Wilson’s consecutive goals begin at 1:00 mark. Carrick’s tremendous backhand cross-ice assist is at 1:45.

In game 3, Wilson’s goals helped the Whalers to pull off a miraculous come back. The Whalers started third period down 3-0 (two of the Knights goals by potential first-rounder Bo Horvat). Wilson scored two consecutive goals in less than four minutes, allowing his team to get back in the game. Five minutes later, a big goal by Ducks’ prospect Rickard Rakell tied the game. Fast-forward one minute and Mitchell Heard gave the Whalers the lead off of amazing cross-ice feed by Carrick.

Then the Whalers’ emotion started working against them. Connor Carrick picked up a minor for cross-checking, and London’s Max Domi tied the game on the ensuing powerplay. 50 seconds later, Seth Griffith gave the Knights the lead. A frustrated Heard shoved one of the Knights in the back of the head, picking up a major for check to the head, burying his team’s hopes of tying the game. Wilson and Vince Trocheck later picked up misconducts for “Persisting” – trying to start a fight despite the linesmen keep the players apart. The Knights kept their cool and coasted to victory as Domi scored an empty-netter.

Wilson’s assist is at the beginning of the video. His goal – a deflection off Carrick’s shot – is at the 1:40 mark. Two more of Carrick’s assists are at 0:35 (notice Wilson screening the goalie) and 1:25 marks.

In game 4, the Whalers started off well, twice getting the lead in the first period and outshooting the opposition. The Knights managed to tie the game going into intermission and then took a two-goal lead by the halfway point. Late in the period, the Whalers tied the game (Wilson provided the equalizer), but the Knights scored early in the third.

Tom Wilson, who missed three games with a reported concussion, has 16 points in 11 games, placing him 7th in playoff points per game and tenth overall in points.

Game 5 may end the Whalers’ season. It will be played in London  at 7PM EST. The OHL has streaming available to watch.