When Wilson missed the beginning of the 2014-15 season, he was a sophomore NHL player who was averaging just under 11 minutes a night and skating the right side of Washington's fourth line. In the years since, he gradually carved out a larger role with more responsibility and more ice time, and he eventually became an important piece of both Washington special teams, too.
Wilson debuted in the NHL in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs and is the rarest of NHLers in that he played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before even suiting up for an NHL exhibition game. He evolved from one of the League's best and most feared fighters to one of its best power forwards. Last season, his totals of 24 goals, 28 assists and 52 points all represented career highs, and his total of 98 penalty minutes in 78 games was his lowest on a PIM/games played basis.
Eight months after his injury, Wilson is finally ready to roll once again, and ready to contribute to the cause as the Caps take aim at a ninth straight berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The last time they missed out was Wilson's rookie season.
"First of all, when you're watching just as a teammate," he says, "it's a whole new perspective that you get for your teammates of the grind that they're going through, and how proud you are as a teammate when you're when you're watching. Every guy steps up and plays different roles and adapts to injuries, no matter who it is. And you're proud as a teammate when guys are playing well and you can see the team coming together here.
"And it's a long season, so any little thing you can bring on a day-to-day basis - energy, positive mindset - when you're out of the grind and guys are coming back from road trips and stuff, you're just trying to help guys out, be a friend, be a teammate. And when I get back in, it's going to be the same mindset, just help the team any way I can and just bring that fresh mind, fresh body mindset to the group and try and keep winning games."