No Suspension for Tom Wilson after Hit on Sandis Vilmanis. That’s Wrong

November 10, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Washington Capitals play in Ottawa tonight and Tom Wilson will be in the lineup as if his cheap hit on Florida rookie Sandis Vilmanis never happened.

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Perhaps we did not see it as well as the NHL’s Department of Player Safety did.

Wilson, long one of the NHL’s biggest cheap-shot artists, will not face any sort of supplemental discipline for boarding Vilmanis in the first period of Washington’s 4-3 win over the Panthers on Saturday afternoon.

The punishment, we guess, of being kicked out of the game was plenty enough.

Wilson has probably learned his lesson.

After being suspended six other times, we seriously doubt it.

And, based on the language Wilson used on the game officials who tossed him Saturday as he took his sweet time getting to the Washington room, he thought that punishment was too harsh.

Really, it was not even close to being enough.

Florida coach Paul Maurice was asked about the hit and deferred comment, saying he would “save that for the Department of Player Safety.’’

”That’s their job,’’ Maurice said.

Well, it was not done.

Wilson knew full well that Vilmanis was in a vulnerable position along the boards. Vilmanis worked the puck up the ice and Wilson bulldozed him from behind, planting the Florida forward face-first into the dasher boards.

There was no doubt it was a boarding call — the puck left Vilmanis’ stick moments before impact — and Wilson had full view of Vilmanis’ number, name plate, and even the small Panthers’ logo on the back of his white helmet.

Ever see a young hockey player wearing a jersey to a game and notice the big red stop sign stitched onto the back?

It there as a reminder to players not to hit another player in the back.

When you see the numbers, stop.

Perhaps teams playing the Capitals from now on should put those stop signs on the back of their sweaters.

Probably would not help anyway.

Vilmanis, 22, missed Sunday’s game in Boston and will likely be out tonight in Columbus as well.

Maurice said the Panthers will not know the severity of Vilmanis’ injury until team doctors in Florida get to take a look at him.

It is possible Vilmanis skipped the team charter and returned to town.

Vilmanis is expected to be fine and he will return to the Florida lineup in time.

That is not the point.

Wilson has been a dangerous and, based on his 30-plus goals the past two seasons, very talented forward in this league who is now making high-end money.

He does not need to keep playing this way to “keep his edge” nor to keep his job.

Again, he just needs to do better.

Perhaps some day.

ON DECK: GAME No. 19FLORIDA PANTHERS at COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Nationwide Arena; Columbus, Ohio
Local TV: None
National Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu
Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM. Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM, NHL App
This Season (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Florida: March 30. At Columbus: Panthers 7, Jackets 3 (Oct. 13); Tuesday.
Last Season: Panthers Won 2-1
All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 30-17-10
Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+, Hulu)

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