Did coverage of the Maple Leafs on social media contribute to Wilson's supplemental discipline?
Did coverage of the Maple Leafs on social media contribute to Wilson's supplemental discipline?
Tom Wilson has finished serving his six-game suspension after an incident that saw the Capitals forward swing his stick while catching Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor in the face.
In heat of the moment, the Capitals forward didn't expect anything to come of it after receiving a double minor. But the reaction to play following the game brought the incident into focus.
"I mean, it's one of those things where it's tough. After the game, no one's really talking about it, It was honestly, a complete accidental play and coaches aren't talking about it, media's not talking about it. Ref gave me a double minor," Wilson told reporters, including THN's Sammi Silber. "And then overnight with slow-mo and all that, you, next morning you wake up to a crazy amount of media. And it's one of those plays where it happens really quick."
Gregor said that Wilson apologized to him immediately after the play and outside of some dental work, the Maple Leafs forward didn't need to miss any time. Any games missed were due to him being a healthy scratch.
"Tough part for me is, he doesn't miss a shift. And I'm gone for six games," Wilson lamented. "It's a tough pill to swallow and when that's the case, it felt like a long time. So obviously, I've got to control my stick better and that doesn't happen. But I think he knew right away it was an accident. There was no intent behind the play. So for six games with a play that there's no intent behind, it's tough."
The Capitals have surprised many by staying in the hunt for a playoff race late in the season. Without Wilson, the club went 3-2-1 and every one of those points matters as they currently sit one point back of the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Washington occupies the second and final wild-card playoff spot with 82 points and only sits ahead of the Detroit Red Wings via a tiebreaker. The New York Islanders are just one point back of both of those teams.
Wilson, a repeat offender, had the option to appeal his suspension but chose not to. Having experienced the process before, he didn't want the lengthy process to be a distraction. Had it gone to a neutral arbitrator, it would have taken time and the only thing he could recoup was the financial penalty involved.
The Maple Leafs are one of the most covered teams in the NHL with a fervorous fanbase. Many clips of Wilson's stick swing on Gregor were shared around on social media. And although he may have a point there, it goes both ways when Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was suspended five games for his cross-check to the face of Ridly Greig.
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