Tom Wilson was able to complete a full practice on Tuesday for the first time since he took a puck to the head in the Washington Capitals’ victory over the Detroit Red Wings on April 5.
Wilson was attempting to lay out and block a shot by Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser with 6:18 remaining in the game when the puck hit him in the back right of the helmet, leaving a slight crack. He missed the Capitals’ final two games of the regular season and only returned to practice for the first time on Monday, spending the first 30 minutes of the hour-long session on the ice.
His time Tuesday was spent working primarily on a fourth line alongside left wing Jason Chimera and center Michael Latta.
“The wind’s a little coming back still, but it’s great to get back out on the ice the last couple days,” Wilson said. “Mentally, that’s just huge, being out practicing with the guys and being part of the daily routine.”
Coach Barry Trotz would not commit to having Wilson on the ice on Wednesday when the Capitals open their first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, referencing only that Wilson, who spent much of the last few weeks of the season as a fourth-line right wing, needs to continue “going through the exact protocols” before he can return.
Neither Trotz nor Wilson have specifically addressed the diagnosis of the injury as a concussion, though Wilson alluded to it as such during a five-minute conversation with reporters on Tuesday.
“You’ve only got one brain and you’ve got to treat it well and treat it right, so as long as I’m feeling good every day — and I have been — it’s encouraging, and hopefully, we can keep that going,” Wilson said.
The NHL does not have a specific outline for when a player can return to the ice after sustaining a concussion and only states that the player must be cleared by a physician before he can play in a game.
Wilson’s gradual return, then, appears to be an attempt by the team’s medical staff to ramp up his physical activity each day he remains free of any symptoms.
“Everyone knows how hard sticks shoot the pucks nowadays, and any time it gets up high on a guy or anything, it’s scary, and when it’s you, it’s not much different,” Wilson said. “It’s still scary. Obviously, it was awesome to see all the support from everyone — fans, teammates, family, friends. It was amazing how many people reached out to me and obviously, pretty thankful for that. It definitely helps.”
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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