Tom Wilson: 2016-17 Season Review

Tom Wilson is a polarizing figure in Caps land, but exactly how good was this ruggedly handsome Canadian lad in 2016-2017? Let’s find out.

By The Numbers

Visualization by HockeyViz

About this visualization: This series of charts made by Micah Blake McCurdy of hockeyviz.com shows various metrics for the player over the course of the 2016-17 season. A short description of each chart:

1. Most common teammates during 5-on-5
2. Ice time per game, split up by game state
3. 5-on-5 adjusted shot attempts by the team (black) and opponents (red)
4. 5-on-5 adjusted shooting percentage by the team (black) and opponents (red)
5. Individual scoring events by the player
6. 5-on-5 adjusted offensive (black) and defensive (red) zone starts

Chris From The Comments’ Take

Tom Wilson had another season in which he was deployed up and down the lineup, though he spent most of the year with Jay Beagle and Daniel Winnik on the fourth line. That trio played a lot of minutes in “defensive” situations against opposition that was pretty meh. Wilson was able to keep his head above water when it came to playing with the puck versus without it (52.0 shot attempt percentage), and the line overall was able to outscore their opponents by a significant margin. Wilson also tied his career high in goals (7) but fell short of his past season career-high total of 23 points. On a team with as much offensive firepower as the 2016-17 Caps, I think you take that total from your fourth line right wing all day, every day.

Another positive to Wilson’s season was yet another full 82-game schedule. With how rough and tough his style of play is, and with how he has become a fixture on the penalty kill, it’s great to see him durable enough to handle all of his hitting, fighting, shot-blocking, etc. duties. With some of the potential departures on the front line this summer, Wilson becoming a pillar in the uglier and less flashy parts of the game (but still integral to team success) is a blessing of sorts.

Speaking of those departures, it is quite likely that number 43 will see his role grow in the future. Is next year the year that he finally grows out of fourth line duties? Will he ever express the offensive potential that he’s had since he was drafted? Who knows, but considering the Capitals’ hesitancy with Jakub Vrana and question marks over the heads of about 600 free agent forwards, I think it’s likely for Wilson to have a breakout.

RMNB’s Pat Holden just put out a piece on whether or not the Capitals should have protected restricted free agent Brett Connolly over Wilson in the expansion draft. Wilson is with the Caps for one more year before he himself becomes a restricted free agent. I think 2017-18 is the year that he needs to prove that the team made the right decision – whether Connolly gets taken or not.

Willy on RMNB

• We argued about this headline a lot. Ended up with Instead of a goal, Tom Wilson scores himself, but we also had In suburban Toronto, goal scores you and This actually counts as progress for Tom Wilson’s offensive output.
• Wilson dabbed. Refuse to embed a photo here.
• In November, Nathan Sick made a strong argument for giving Wilson more ice time. Wilson got that ice time, and then he promptly scored.

… and 15 seconds later! #CapsNucks on @CSNMA pic.twitter.com/s0pK2H5Ywv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 30, 2016

• Our own Pat Holden gave Top-Line Tommy the seal of approval.
• In addition to some more 5-on-5 responsibility, Wilson distinguished himself with strong penalty-kill work.
• Wilson taught Zach Sanford how to fight. Protect ya nip.
• Butt slashes against TJ Oshie, an ennealogy: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, and Part IX.
• Keep your eye on the weird bald guy.

• Pie to the face of Jakub “everyone in the Caps organization hates me” Vrana after his first NHL goal.
• One of Wilson’s biggest values is drawing penalties in response to his physical play. Here’s a primo example.

• That was fun, but not all Wilson hits were like that. In late December, Wilson sent John Moore to the hospital. Wilson was not penalized.
• Dennnis Seidenberg was also on the receiving end of a Tommy knocker. Taylor Leier and Brandon Manning tried to knock Tommy but blew it. Antoine Roussel fought Tom then got knocked. Tom high-sticked Zach Parise and had to pay for it … in bloooooood!
• More blood from a rumble with Chris Stewart. Tom was very Matt Bradley-y this year.

Okay, you’ve been patient. Let’s talk about the playoffs.

• Tom was amaaaaazing! Look at that goal he saved. He scored on that same damn shift. Plus Tom got the OTGWG in game one against the Leafs after Toronto head coach Mike Babcock talked smack about him. Tom literally outscored the Chicago Blackhawks.
• But then in round two, woof. Tom got his nose all jammed up by Ian Cole. Later, he got ejected from a game after wrecking Tom Kuhnhackl. After three goals in the first series, Wilson got nothing against the Penguins.

• Finally, the best Halloween costume. Tom later signed the penalty box; he’s a good sport (when he’s not playing sports).

Your Turn

Do you agree with the Capitals protecting Wilson from the expansion draft? Has Wilson reached his peak production output?

Read more: Japers’ Rink, Stars and Sticks

Headline photo: NHL