Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson and the NHLPA have declined to appeal his six-game suspension for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor, Sportsnet can confirm.
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN first reported the news.
The NHL’s department of player safety gave Wilson a suspension tied for the longest of any player this season after a disciplinary hearing with him on Zoom on Friday. The league offering that type of hearing instead of a phone call allowed senior vice president of player safety George Parros to hand down a suspension of six or more games.
In a video announcing the suspension, player safety said Wilson swung his stick in “extremely reckless fashion.”
“Wilson’s actions on this play are fully under his own control, irresponsible, and not related to any sort of legitimate hockey action,” the league said. “He is accountable for the dangerous result of the play, which is a direct and forceful blow to an opponent’s head by a player with a substantial track record of supplemental discipline.”
It’s the sixth time Wilson has been suspended since 2017 and his first since being banned seven games for boarding Boston’s Brandon Carlo with head contact in 2021. He has also been fined three times: for roughing in 2021, kneeing in 2016, and embellishment in 2015.
Wilson will forfeit $161,458 in salary. Already out Friday night against Carolina and Sunday versus Winnipeg, he’ll miss upcoming games against Detroit, Toronto, Boston, and Buffalo.
— With files from the Associated Press
