Age: 29

Position: RW 

Statistics: 13 goals, 9 assists, 22 points (33 games played)

Contract: Signed through 2023-24 at $5,166,667 (modified no-trade clause).

Player Overview

Washington Capitals’ forward Tom Wilson is your prototypical power forward. Wilson plays physically, goes to the front of the net, and can produce offensively. Having a blend of toughness in the lineup is an ideal scenario. However, being able to produce while bringing that element is key for this era of the game. Wilson does just that. 

Wilson has proven he can produce. He has hit the 40-point mark twice while also having a career year in 2021-22. Wilson scored 24 goals, 28 assists, and 52 points that season. However, this past season was a down year, as he was returning from an ACL injury.

He ended up returning to the lineup and had 22 points in 33 games. The physical element of his game certainly did not disappear. In the 33 games played, Wilson racked up 97 hits.

Contract

Tom Wilson is entering the final year of his current deal. Wilson is on the books for $5.167 million. That is a very affordable contract especially since the 29-year-old looked pretty good coming off his ACL injury.

As it stands, any type of deal would come as a pure rental situation unless Fitzgerald puts pen to paper for an extension. Worth pointing out, Wilson had a modified no-trade clause in his contract.

Fit For The Devils

The fit for Tom Wilson is there. Even though the team has locked up Jesper Bratt to an eight-year contract and Timo Meier is likely to sign long-term, the Devils could use a middle-six winger.

In addition, he is your prototypical power forward. Much like Meier, Wilson plays a physical brand of hockey and can produce as well. Outside of a couple guys, Wilson brings an element the Devils don’t really have.

As currently constructed, the right side has Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer. How head coach Lindy Ruff wants to construct the lineup is a different story, but adding Wilson gives the Devils another bruiser in the mix.

Would A Trade Make Sense?

This is where it gets interesting, for two reasons. First off, does Washington want to move one of their core pieces? Management has already said they will not rebuild while Alexander Ovechkin is still in the fold. Not to mention, trading Wilson within the division may not be the smartest move for Washington. Additionally, a report earlier this week came out saying Washington will not move Wilson. Though, things always change.

The other aspect is the above mentioned modified no-trade clause. If Washington does want to move Wilson, which seems unlikely, he can control – for the most part – where he goes. There’s no telling if Wilson would want to join the Devils or not.

So, at the end of the day, New Jersey would certainly experience a large boost with Wilson in their lineup. They also have the assets and space needed to get a deal done. However, it all comes down to if Washington wants to move Wilson, or if he would even want to join New Jersey. Those are two huge question marks, and for that reason, a deal seems unlikely.