"You know when he's on the ice. You have to know when he's on the ice, or he'll let you know with a hit," Capitals defenseman Matt Irwin said of Tom Wilson.
ARLINGTON, V.A. -- After a long Washington Capitals practice, Matt Irwin glances over at Tom Wilson's stall and grins as he ponders an interesting question: what's it like to play against Tom Wilson versus having him on your side?
Irwin, who hasn't shied away from laying the body or dropping the gloves when necessary over the course of his 11-year career. Having laced 'em up for the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators and Buffalo Sabres before spending his last couple of seasons with the Capitals, Irwin has been around the block enough times to know who's a pain to go up against. Wilson was no exception.
"It's definitely better to be in the same room as him, for sure," Irwin admitted with a laugh. "I've had some battles with Willy over the course of our games together, and he's just so strong, powerful skater. Obviously, he's got that intimidation factor. You know when he's on the ice. You have to know when he's on the ice, or he'll let you know with a hit."
Roughly 8 percent of the NHLPA feels the same way, saying in a 2022-23 players poll that they enjoy playing against Wilson the least but would love to have him on their team.
And rightfully so. The hard-hitting forward has a reputation, but over the last few seasons, he has left behind his controversial play to break out as a proven top-line winger and contributor. He posted 24 goals and 52 points in 2021-22, and in his limited 2022-23 campaign, the 29-year-old had 22 points in 33 games, which would have put him on pace for 53 points.
Wilson was out for months to open the season while recovering from offseason ACL surgery, and after coming back, suffered a broken ankle. For Washington, having Wilson out of the lineup hurt.
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For other teams, though, it's the opposite. Seeing Wilson on the other bench isn't a pleasant sight -- and even his teammates who used to have to go up against him aren't afraid to admit it.
"It's a lot better being his teammate," Marcus Johansson, who has spent the majority of his career alongside No. 43, joked. "He's such a good player. He's good offensively; he's fast, he's strong. You need to be aware when he's out there because he can hit. He's got the full package.
"It's been fun to see him grow into that player. It's definitely more fun being on the same side... he's good in all aspects of the game, but you need to be worrying when you have the puck because he's gonna hit you. And you need to be aware when he has the puck because he can make plays and score."
Looking at everything Wilson brings to the table, from his ability to score to his heavy hits, other teams circle the number 43 on the whiteboard that hangs in the locker room. It's important to be aware of when he's on the ice and to have players ready to handle him.
That was often Garnet Hathaway's job. He's an intimidator in his own right, also known for his heavy-hitting style and fighting ability, and he had to deal with Wilson for years before his Capitals tenure.
"Tom's a player that I've been watching for a while, right? Playing against him, he's a guy you highlight on the team's roster to keep an eye out for," Hathaway explained, adding, "We see how hard he works."
Dylan Strome said that he and the Chicago Blackhawks would also watch warily when Wilson was on the ice. After all, it's hard not to notice the 6-4 220-pound winger.
"Anytime he's on the ice, guys on the other team are going to be aware of that. It maybe makes them tighten up a little bit," Strome noted.
But, as Johansson said, there's something special about having him as an ally. Because of that, the Capitals are more than happy that he wants to wrap up his career in D.C., and that the feeling is mutual for management while offseason trade speculation has come to a halt.
"When he's out there, it's a good thing for your team. He's a great player, and he can score goals and hit and do everything that the team needs to be successful," Strome said. "You can see why he's been successful in his career with the way he plays and what he does on the ice."