Wilson's new seven-year deal all but guarantees he'll retire with the Capitals, and it'll pay off big time for D.C.

ARLINGTON, V.A. -- At the end of the season, Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson said that he couldn't imagine ever playing for another NHL team. On Thursday, he all but guaranteed that he'll finish up his career in D.C. with a seven-year extension.

The deal carries an AAV of $6.5 million and will kick off in 2024-25 and go through the 2030-31 season. He will be 37 years old when the deal expires.

While it's a big commitment to Wilson, who is a three-time 20-goal scorer, the deal is one that the team won't regret -- and they'll see it pay off, too.

Here's why.

First off, Wilson has trended in the right direction and has made major strides, going from a fourth-line tough guy to a fixture in the top-6 and one of the team's most important players.

To start his career, Wilson was more known for controversial hits and willingness to go toe-to-toe. While he still plays with the same grit -- he had 97 hits in just 33 games this past season and has totalled over 200 hits in six of his 10 seasons -- he has become a key top-6 contributor who can finish, make plays and log heavy minutes. He also plays multiple roles and is one of the club's top penalty killers.

"Tom possesses all the intangibles needed to win in this league, and we are extremely pleased to sign him to a long-term contract, giving him the opportunity to finish his career in a Capitals uniform," general manager Brian MacLellan said. "Throughout his career, Tom has improved every facet of his game through his drive and competitiveness. We feel his work ethic and leadership qualities will be a tremendous asset to our organization for years to come."

While some would argue that Wilson, a three-time 20-goal scorer, still has a lot to prove, he's in the prime of his career right now and has shown that he can bring consistency on a nightly basis.

In 2021-22, he broke out with an All-Star caliber that saw him post a career-high 24 goals, 28 assists and 52 points. A torn ACL in Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs led to him missing the first part of the 2022-23 campaign, and a broken ankle just a few games into his return held him out a bit longer.

The struggling Capitals weren't the same without Wilson. There was a notable lack of energy, physicality and stability, and the penalty kill also took a hit without him in the mix. Washington's record took a hit, with the team unable to gain a foothold on consistency.

Once the 6-foot-4, 220-pound power forward returned to the mix full-time, he was one of the team's top players and never gave up on the season, even after the team missed out on the playoffs for the first time in nine years. In 33 total games after coming back from injury, he managed 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points. He would have been on pace for 54 points had he played the whole season.

Beyond his on-ice impact, though, the biggest reason the Capitals won't regret this deal is because of what he brings to the room off the ice.

Wilson is one of the most important voices in the room and leads by example, and he's also taken the younger members of the team under his wing. When Alex Ovechkin eventually hangs them up, there is a unanimous choice for the next player to wear the "C," and that's No. 43.

"That's just Tom's DNA," former head coach Peter Laviolette said.

Prospects have beamed about Wilson, including Hendrix Lapierre, who is still trying to make his mark and is likely to come up at some point with the team looking to get younger.

"We talked a lot. He's obviously a very, very good guy to be around. He's been there for a while, and on the ice he's always 100 percent," Lapierre said, adding, "Willy was probably the main guy that I spoke to [after being sent back to juniors in 2021]. It wasn't that often, but when it was, I was all ears, and I was ready to hear whatever he had to say."

Not only that, but his commitment to the team and dedication to the city go unparalleled.

"There's a pride in putting on the jersey every night, playing in the NHL, playing for an organization like this," Wilson said.

As for the term of the contract, the Capitals' most expensive deals end in a few years. Wilson is the only player under contract past 2028, Ovechkin and Backstrom's deals are over within the next three years and Kuznetsov's deal ends in two years. Given what Wilson brings, $6.5 million isn't a huge hit to worry about down the road, especially with the team likely headed toward a rebuild and only getting younger.

In the end, the pros outweigh the cons, and Wilson has also emerged as the face of the franchise. That being said, him committing to the District for the remainder of his career is an important step for the team's future and one that won't come with remorse.