43 Tom Wilson RW

Capitals' Tom Wilson: Set to appeal 20-game ban

The appeal is hardly a surprise given the long sentence Wilson received Wednesday for an illegal hit to the head of Blues winger Oskar Sundqvist during the preseason finale Sept. 30. It's unclear what effect the appeal will have, but even if the process shaves a few games off the suspension, the Toronto native is still likely to miss several weeks of action. Keep an eye on the situation as it unfolds. For now, Brett Connolly has taken Wilson's place on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Capitals' Tom Wilson: Handed 20-game suspension

Wilson will essentially miss 25 percent of the season after his hit on Sundqvist was determined to be high, forceful and avoidable, while making the head the main point of contact and causing an injury. It should be noted that Wilson is considered a repeat offender after being banned three times during the course of the 2017-18 season, which the league noted as "an unprecedented frequency of suspension in the history of the Department of Player Safety." After setting career highs in goals (14) and assists (21) last season, Wilson almost certainly won't be able to match those marks this year. The 24-year-old's first chance to play this season will be Nov. 19 versus Montreal.

Capitals' Tom Wilson: In-person hearing scheduled for Wednesday

Wilson received a game misconduct for the act, and as a repeat offender, he could see himself hit with a hefty suspension. The offering of an in-person hearing allows the league to hand out a suspension of six or more games. At this point, it is a foregone conclusion that Wilson will miss time as a result of his most recent on-ice misstep.

Capitals' Tom Wilson: Offered in-person hearing

Wilson was kicked out of Sunday's game after delivering an open-ice headshot to Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist. Early reports suggest Sundqvist will miss an extended period of time. Meanwhile, the Capitals figure to be without Wilson for a handful of games as a result of his most recent on-ice transgression. The offering of an in-person hearing allows the league to levy a suspension of six games or more if they deem it necessary.

Capitals' Tom Wilson: Ejected from preseason finale

Wilson's resume of questionable hits continues to grow as he hit Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist with a violent hit early in the second period that knocked Sundqvist out of the game. The power forward's actions will be scrutinized closely by the Department of Player Safety, and it's very possible that Wilson could be staring at another suspension to open the season. It is the threat of suspensions more than anything that undermines Wilson's long-term fantasy value in standard formats, so managers should be aware of the risks before rostering him in any league.