Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#16 overall), right wing Tom Wilson(10) enjoyed his third and final season in juniors as assistant captain with Plymouth Whalers.
He scored highs in goals (23), assists (35) and points (58), more than doubling the numbers he put up the previous year and achieved a similar effect in the postseason striking for 9 goals and 8 assists in 13 games to help take his team to the OHL Western Conference Finals before falling.
The still only 19-year old 6’4″ 210 lbs. big body has no problem using his size advantage out there and bets are on that he’ll transition to the pro ranks with ease.
He was signed to a three-year entry level deal soon after he was drafted but without a season to start in the big league was reassigned back to juniors. He appeared in the Capitals brief training camp when the lockout thawed but was once again sent down.
He made his AHL debut with minor league affiliate Hershey Bears for the 2013 Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, where he broke the ice with his first goal. But the Bears‘ fortunes were ended when they lost in the deciding game 5 of the series.
It was a given that he would continue his 2012/2013 playing time to at the very least participate as a member of Washington’s practice squad for their Stanley Cup playoff push, but when injury sidelined one of their top forwards he was recalled to join the team and play his first NHL game.
He skated 8 shifts for 6:24 of total ice time, registering one shot, one takeaway and dishing out 4 hits in the 2-1 OT win.
With the appearance, the young forward appeared in three leagues in one season.
