Tom Wilson hits new mark in Capitals history

With two goals Sunday afternoon, Wilson climbed to 194 in his Capitals career, eighth on the franchise list according to team PR. The rugged winger started the day behind Oshie at 192 and Christian at 193, then passed them both in one statement game.

It is another chapter in a pretty wild arc for the 31 year old, once viewed mostly as an enforcer. Drafted 16th overall in 2012, Wilson has grown into a top line power forward, posting 33 goals and 65 points in 81 games last season.

You do not luck into eighth place on a goals list that also features Alex Ovechkin, Peter Bondra and Mike Gartner, all long time snipers.

Passing T.J. Oshie and Dave Christian is not some throwaway trivia either, it connects eras. Christian scored 193 for Washington in the eighties, Oshie has piled up 192 since arriving from St Louis in 2015.

Wilson is doing it while still driving possession, killing penalties and setting a physical tone, but the numbers now match the eye test. Since the start of 2024 he has played at roughly a 30 goal pace, and this fall he again leads Washington in goals.

When they signed him to a seven year, 45.5 million extension in 2023, running through 2030. At 31, with 194 goals already and plenty of runway left, it suddenly feels realistic that he climbs a few more rungs on that list.

For a fan base that watched him grow from chaotic wrecking ball into trusted scorer, seeing Wilson pass names from the rafters carries real weight. Next up is seventh place, and nobody would be surprised if he gets there soon.