There was a point last night when a player was by the boards with his back towards TW and Wilson was skating at him full speed and then stopped last second and avoided contact. I thought that was a good example of how he is changing his game for the better. Maybe last year or two years ago he would have tried to drill that guy and who knows what would happen.
Anybody who is calling TW a no skill goon does not watch him play or is just a hater. Besides being top 3 fighter/pest in the league the dude also provides plenty of offense, creates turnovers, kills penalties and will go through a wall for any guy on his team.
There is another thing that i do not see mentioned on these boards when discussing Wilson, any of you guys really pay attention to him when he is along the boards battling for puck? Whether its in offensive zone or killing penalties the guy is an absolute beast when he is battling for the puck. He looks like he has Mcdavids speed out there when he is rushing from one player to another trying to take the puck away. He is in one place and then in a second he is in another pushing guy into the boards trying to get the puck. It seems like he is the fastest player in the world in those situations and adding his size to the mix i think he is one the best int his league at taking the puck away along the boards.
How can I have been wrong about Wilson for a year if he signed his contract a few months ago?
have you only been wrong about Wilson about his contract?
He's played 4 games of his new contract. It's not exactly a settled issue yet. I only said he's proving me wrong so far.
And what do you mean? I've never been a Wilson hater.
Asking a simple question. He said you have been wrong for a year. You said he just signed the contract. So I asked if the contract was the only thing about Wilson you could have been wrong about?
That said, Wilson earned his money last season. He was a primary force in them winning the cup and his play has improved every season. His contract value to this team seems pretty clear. Last season he was 5th in Evg within 2 of 3rd. This is with a significant portion of the season on the 4th line. He was 5th in evg in the playoffs. He was 3rd in playoff evp. Just 1 behind Ov for 2nd. He was 5th in evp in the regular season. He was 5th in average toi among forwards in the both RS and Playoffs.
If you look back at all the contract predictions before he signed, from fans and writers alike, the final contract was much higher.
Everyone was guessing 3.5-4.5
His pass through traffic to Ovi for his tap in 1st goal last night, Backie or Kuzy couldn't have done it better, that was highly skilled and perfect, easy alley oop for Ovi. Watch it again.
Ya cycling is very hard work. It take a lot of energy. And Wilson is very good at it. Wilson us good at a lot if things. He has become a better player than most thought he would. Work ethic has never been a problem and neither has his defensive responsibility. He has really improved his skating and skill. I think the thing that surprises me the most is his passing. I had no clue he was that good of a play maker. He made a couple pretty slick passes last game. I like everything about his game except the bad hits. I still think he needs to be a physical presence but he has to pick his spots. He is no good to us in the penalty box.Yeah, the guy is a beast on the boards, the anti-Bura. He's so solid on the forecheck taking the puck away from defenders, but also cycling when we have possession. Anyone who has ever played ice hockey knows that cycling along the boards, grinding, is the hardest thing to do, endurance wise... it burns your legs so quickly to jump back and forth with a guy draped on you. TW's board work is a huge part of his game, why he fits so well with 8-92. He digs those pucks out and get them to the 8-92 for them to do their open ice magic.
And yes, anyone who doesn't recognize all the things TW brings to the game, simply isn't watching him, they're only seeing hit penalty hits on the main board gifs.
80 % in the last 4 games.Anyone care to bring PK stats with Wilson added to roster?
Anyone care to bring PK stats with Wilson added to roster?
Its refreshing to see Willy getting PP time over Conno. I guess we just wanted to get his contract ironed out so as not have to pad his stats and over inflate his contract.
Getting paid largely for PP points is a big mistake IMO. #Brooksied
He'd look great eating up $5m on Crosby's wing.It is good to see, but I'm also rooting for Connolly to get that big payday, not from us but from some team.
I think Wilson recieved a clear order from coaching stuff to not hit predatory. Idk if it's a good thing yet, but it makes Caps win games for now. I think when talent is on our side, you don't need to scare off opponents.
Its refreshing to see Willy getting PP time over Conno. I guess we just wanted to get his contract ironed out so as not have to pad his stats and over inflate his contract.
Getting paid largely for PP points is a big mistake IMO. #Brooksied
I think the Wilson over Connolly on PP1 may have, in part, been about trying to keep as much of PP2 intact as possible. Similar to Eller leapfrogging over Backstrom for the 1C spot with Kuznetsov out.
That being said, they never use PP2 so who would know anyway.
I'm referring to ES lines. Backstrom stayed on 2, while Eller moved up to center Ovechkinleapfrogged over Backstrom??? Backstrom runs that pp. Always has
I'm referring to ES lines. Backstrom stayed on 2, while Eller moved up to center Ovechkin