The Washington Capitals concluded a busy Friday by selecting Thomas Wilson with the No. 16 overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft, Washington's second and final pick of the first round.
Wilson recorded 27 points (9 goals and 18 assists) in 49 games with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League in 2011-12, while also racking up 141 penalty minutes.
Here's what the folks at Lighthouse Hockey had to say about Washington latest draft pick.
If a team invests in Wilson, they know they are getting a big, physical player whose skating is on the right trajectory for a big man. What they do not know is if they are getting actual scoring ability. All of the focus on the checking aspect could certainly be a red flag for any team considering selecting him in the teens. Pundits too often fall in love with size and merely hope the scoring addresses itself. A few reports suggest Wilson impressed as a physical specimen at this past weekends Scouting Combine, though that's to be expected of a prospect with a more fully developed body.
It's a big "if," but if it pays off then it's huge.
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