Washington Capitals sign Tom Wilson to seven-year, $45.5 million extension

The Washington Capitals announced this morning that they have signed longtime Caps forward Tom Wilson to a seven-year, $45.5 million extension beginning in 2024-25. According to  CapFriendly, the contract will have an average annual value (AAV) of $6.5 million. Wilson was expected to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Wilson notched 13 goals and 22 points in 33 games during the 2022-23 regular season. He missed the first half of the season recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL. Then, shortly after his return to the lineup, he lasted only eight games before another injury took him out of the lineup for several weeks.

Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan reinforced Wilson’s importance to the team, “Tom possesses all the intangibles needed to win in this League, and we are extremely pleased to sign him to a long-term contract, giving him the opportunity to finish his career in a Capitals’ uniform,” said MacLellan. “Throughout his career, Tom has improved every facet of his game through his drive and competitiveness. We feel his work ethic and leadership qualities will be a tremendous asset to our organization for years to come.”

The Toronto, Ontario product was initially drafted No. 16 overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. He has spent 12 seasons in D.C., appearing in 680 regular season games, registering 128 goals and 167 assists for 295 points. He has added 1,299 penalty minutes and currently ranks third on the Capitals’ all-time record list. Additionally, Wilson has appeared in 83 Stanley Cup Playoff games, notching 31 points. In 2017-18, he led the NHL in playoff hits with 100 as the Capitals won their first Stanley Cup. In 2021-22, Wilson represented the Capitals at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas, his first career All-Star Game selection.