Capitals' Tom Wilson suspended seven games for hit on Bruins' Brandon Carlo
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has been suspended seven games for his hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Saturday.
"While there are aspects of this hit that may skirt the line between suspendable and non-suspendable, it is the totality of the circumstances that caused this play to merit supplemental discipline," the NHL said in its suspension video. "What separates this hit from others is the direct and significant contact to a defenseless player's face and head, causing a violent impact with the glass."
Under terms of the CBA and based on his salary, Wilson will forfeit $311,781.61. The suspension is subject to NHLPA appeal to commissioner Gary Bettman and a neutral arbitrator.
Wilson hit Carlo near the head area with time winding down in the first period. Carlo did not return to the game and was transported to a local hospital by ambulance.
Even though Wilson has a reputation for being a dirty player, the veteran winger did not receive a penalty for the high hit. Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette didn't see anything wrong with the hit, saying it "just looked like a hard hit in the corner."
This marks Wilson's fifth NHL suspension. He was suspended four times between September 2017 to October 2018 for illegal hits in a 105-game span.
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