Tom Wilson's hot start proves he is more than just Capitals' enforcer

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson is a polarizing character in the NHL. He's the kind of player that opponents would love as a teammate, but opposing fans love to hate.

Wilson's brutal hits (and sometimes brutal suspensions) have cast-typed him as Washington's "goon" or "enforcer." He led the league in penalty minutes in 2020-21 and topped over 100 penalty minutes in seven of his 11 seasons prior to this year.

However, since lifting the Stanley Cup with the team in 2018, Wilson's game has evolved well beyond that of a hard-hitter and glove-dropper. He's tallied 20 or more goals in three of the last six years and racked up 30 or more points in five seasons over that span.

His 226 points since 2018 are more than double the total he put up prior to lifting Lord Stanley (104 points in five years). And he only seems to be trending up as one of Washington's top producers.

To start the 2024-25 campaign, Wilson is off to the hottest offensive start in his career. He's scored a goal in each of his first three games, something he's never done before in 11 seasons prior.