2026-07-06 19:34:35 Tom Wilson undergoes successful knee surgery; will miss 6-8 months with torn ACL – NEW WTOP Skip to main content

Tom Wilson undergoes successful knee surgery; will miss 6-8 months with torn ACL

By Andrew Gillis

Tom Wilson undergoes successful knee surgery; will miss 6-8 months with torn ACL originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Tom Wilson underwent successful left knee surgery to repair a torn ACL, the Capitals announced Wednesday afternoon. He is expected to miss six-to-eight months, which would tentatively put a return anywhere from Thanksgiving to late January. 

Wilson was injured in Game 1 of the team’s first-round series against the Florida Panthers after playing less than 100 seconds of game time. He scored a power play goal in the opening minutes, but left the game and never returned to the series despite repeated attempts to come back to game action.

He was injured after he skated hard into the corner boards in an attempt to hit Florida defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. Wilson tried his best to return to the series, and skated twice separate from the team after suffering the injury, but couldn’t get back.

“I tried to avoid the hit a little bit,” Wilson said at the team’s breakdown day last week. “I was going in pretty fast and I tried to avoid it a little bit and then I put myself and probably jeopardized myself a little bit and probably hyperextended my leg in the boards. I kind of pivoted around a little bit to get on my left leg, but I don’t know exactly what happened. I tried it out and it was no good. The rehab had started and we did everything we could, but just didn’t get there.”

Wilson, 28, is coming off a career year in both goals (24) and points (28), as the physical and respected leader for the Capitals turned in what was likely his best season as a professional. 

There are still injury concerns for the Capitals before the 2022-23 season commences, as center Nicklas Backstrom has a nagging left hip injury and left wing Carl Hagelin is working his way back from a grisly left eye injury. Backstrom is under contract for three more years at $9.2 million and Hagelin is under contract for one more season at $2.75 million. 

Now, they’ll have to live without Wilson for what could end up being more than half of the regular season.

All about Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin with stats and contract info

By NBC Sports Washington Staff
All about Alex Ovechkin with stats and contract info originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonEver since making his NHL debut in 2005, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has proven to be the greatest goalscorer the sport has ever seen.The 2004 No. 1 overall pick scored two goals in his first career game and hasn't stopped finding the back of the net at record pace, putting him within reach of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals mark. Ovechkin has compiled an impressive trophy case along the way, winning three Hart Memorial Trophy MVPs, a record nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies as the NHL's leading goal scorer, nine NHL First-Team selections, 12 all-star selections, the 2018-19 Stanley Cup title and the Conn Smythe Trophy for the MVP of that year's playoffs.He is undoubtedly one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Alex Ovechkin's BioHeight: 6-foot-3Weight: 238 poundsBirthdate: Sept. 17, 1985 Birthplace: Moscow, RussiaNHL experience: 17 seasonsJersey No. 8Alex Ovechkin's Career StatsAfter showing no signs of slowing down with a 50-goal season in Year 17, Ovechkin has continued to put up mind-boggling stats deep into his 30s. Here are his complete career numbers to date (through Oct 11, 2022): 1,274 games played780 goals scored630 assists1,410 pointsStanley Cup Playoffs:141 games71 goals64 assists135 pointsAlex Ovechkin's Contract DetailsIt was always a matter of "when" and not "if" Alex Ovechkin would sign a contract extension with the Capitals this past offseason. The five-year, $47.5 million deal he signed at the end of July 2021 showed his desire to finish his career in the nation's capital with an eye towards breaking the all-time goals record as well. Ovechkin's deal ends following the 2025-26 season. Where does Alex Ovechkin rank on the all-time goals list? Ovechkin finished his 17th NHL season with a clean 50 goals, bringing his career total to 780. Here's where that ever-growing mark ranks on the all-time goals leaderboard: Wayne Gretzky: 894Gordie Howe: 801Alex Ovechkin: 780Jaromir Jagr: 766Brett Hull: 741Other Alex Ovechkin RecordsMuch has been made about Ovechkin's all-time goals chase, but he's also accumulated some other pretty impressive records along the way as well. Most recently, Ovi broke the all-time power play goals mark with his 275th score on New Year's Eve against the Red Wings. By a second, he narrowly beat the release of Detroit's man in the penalty box to secure the record. Here are some of the Great 8's other all-time NHL records: Most scoring titles: nineMost overtime goals: 24Most consecutive 30-goal seasons: 15 (tied with Jaromir Jagr and Mike Gartner)
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