There’s been a HUGE uproar over Tom Wilson’s new contract, and while I understand some of it, I really don’t understand all of it. And while some of it could be due to my own personal biases, I simply cannot fathom some of the main criticisms. ( I understand most of these criticisms are coming from outside the organization, who don’t watch him on a daily basis, but just here me out.)
Let’s set out the facts first: Tom Wilson is 24 years old. He was drafted 16th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft. His first NHL season was 2013-2014 where he played all 82 games. Tom Wilson’s role with team includes being a top line winger with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov, a penalty killer, and an occasional 2nd unit power play player.
One of the main criticisms I have heard and read is that he is not an offensive player, he is a goon, or he doesn’t impact the top line enough.
Yes, he isn’t an offensive player. But the capitals aren’t expecting him to do so. They are expecting him to score 15-20 goals.
Grow up.
This is probably the DUMBEST CRITICISM I have heard. Watch capitals games, you can see just how much he impacts the play of the top-line. Especially by making some players think twice about what plays to make.
I think this contract is one designed not for who Tom Wilson was in 2013-2018, but who he will be 2018 and beyond. Tom Wilson does sooooooooo much for the Capitals locker room. He is a great person, personality, and sound bite. In fact many people that cover the Caps, and people within the organization, believe that; TOM WILSON WILL BE THE NEXT CAPTAIN OF THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS. Or at the very least have a letter on his sweater as soon as one becomes available. And I believe these sentiments to be true.
Now, is everything sunshine and daisies. HELLO NO! This is an example of how winning the Stanley Cup impacts how players get paid. But don’t think he got 5,166,666 because he won a Cup. He would have gotten about 4 million anyway, assuming nothing crazy happening.
All in all, Only the people who watch him a daily basis will understand why he is paid this way. And fans of other teams who simply cannot understand this contract, will understand eventually when a CHARACTER player is paid.
There is no way to put my feelings about this contrat into words, but it makes sense to me, and I hope this helps fans of other teams semi-understand this contract.
TOM WILSON EARNED EVERY PENNY OF HIS CONTRACT, and I am disappointed not everyone sees all we see. I feel like I am rambling here, so i'll stop typing, but
I could come up with a bunch of reasons why Andrew Ladd could be worth his deal. For example, metrics point to him being one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL, but at the end of the day, he's overpaid and is simply not worth his deal.
I love Tom Wilson, and I hope he proves to be worth this contract. He’s a very effective player in his role. But that role should not pay him more than Viktor Arvidsson or Brendan Gallagher or Kyle Palmieri or Chris Kreider.
You can spin it all you want, but that contract is still a mistake. Even if he lives up to that contract, it was still a mistake, because he's done nothing to warrant a contract that size.
Obviously he's a player who has a bigger effect than just points, and that's fine, but you don't give 'energy' players big money contracts, even if you have them playing on the top line. the Leafs wouldn't sign a guy like Zach Hyman to a huge money deal just because he plays with 34-29.
You can spin it all you want, but that contract is still a mistake. Even if he lives up to that contract, it was still a mistake, because he's done nothing to warrant a contract that size.
Obviously he's a player who has a bigger effect than just points, and that's fine, but you don't give 'energy' players big money contracts, even if you have them playing on the top line. the Leafs wouldn't sign a guy like Zach Hyman to a huge money deal just because he plays with 34-29.
Quoting: Claesson4Norris
You can spin it all you want, but that contract is still a mistake. Even if he lives up to that contract, it was still a mistake, because he's done nothing to warrant a contract that size.
Obviously he's a player who has a bigger effect than just points, and that's fine, but you don't give 'energy' players big money contracts, even if you have them playing on the top line. the Leafs wouldn't sign a guy like Zach Hyman to a huge money deal just because he plays with 34-29.
O.K. hold on... I already explained Why he EARNED this contract. Tom Wilson does so much for this organization. Tom Wilson is more than a "energy guy". As I said I can't do anything to change the opinion of people who don't see him play day in and day out. This contract is not a mistake, a mistake would have been not to resign him.
McDavid, Connor
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