Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson activated off IR ahead of Stadium Series
The Washington Capitals have activated forward Tom Wilson off the injured reserve list ahead of their Stadium Series game against the Carolina Hurricanes, NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti reported Saturday.
Wilson practiced with the Capitals on Friday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC ahead of Saturday’s outdoor game. The 28-year-old forward hasn’t played since he sustained a lower-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 24.
In a corresponding move to fit Wilson on their active roster, the Capitals assigned defenseman Dylan McIlrath to the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears.
With Dylan McIlrath being returned to Hershey, Tom Wilson is no longer listed on IR on the Capitals roster on the NHL media site.
Wilson hasn’t played since blocking a shot off his right ankle on Jan. 24 at Colorado
Through eight games with the Capitals this year, Wilson has collected two goals and three points. He’s under contract through the end of the 2023–24 season at a $5,166,667 annual cap hit.
Wilson is one of the NHL’s most physical forwards. The Toronto, ON product has scored 20 goals in three of the last four seasons and recorded a career-best 52 points in 2021–22. He won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018.
Injured forwards Wilson, Marcus Johansson, and Nic Dowd all skated with the Capitals on Friday. While Dowd remains on injured reserve, both Johansson and Wilson are on the active roster and could play on Saturday.
Johansson exited Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers with an apparent lower-body injury after colliding awkwardly with Radko Gudas midway through the third period. The 32-year-old forward has 13 goals and 28 points in 57 games with the Capitals this season.
Dowd, 32, has been out since Jan. 16 while recovering from a lower-body injury. He has 10 goals and 19 points in 44 games with Washington this year.
The Capitals (28–23–6) and Hurricanes (36–10–8) are set to hit the ice at Carter-Finley Stadium at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday. Daily Faceoff‘s Frank Seravalli is on the ground in Raleigh to take in all the action and provide updates — follow along here.