Tom Wilson Shares Injury Update, Discusses Progress

ARLINGTON, V.A. — As Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson took the ice for an optional skate on Wednesday, he said he was feeling a lot better than he had just three days ago.

Still, it's been a long journey back — and a frustrating one — from another lower-body injury he suffered just eight games into his return.

"I've been better, I've been worse, but I'm grinding through it. There's a lot of other shit going on right now that's a lot more important," Wilson said, referring to the passing of Alex Ovechkin's father. "I'm lucky to come to the rink every day and have a job and be able to work toward getting back in the lineup, and that's just what I'm trying to focus on."

A few games into his return from offseason ACL surgery, Wilson was starting to find his game and had two goals and an assist. However, on Jan. 24 against the Colorado Avalanche, he was hurt again after blocking a Brad Hunt slapshot from close range. He glided off and did not return, and has since returned to skating and improving each time he takes the ice.

"I want to be out there with the team. It's been a frustrating year, but I just want to be out there helping the team win," Wilson said. "I'm getting closer, I'm getting better every day. So we'll see. I just gotta keep progressing and moving in the right direction."

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He wouldn't confirm whether or not a return would be in the near future or by the end of this week, but he said that he is trending in the right direction.

"Every day right now is getting better… I don't know where I'll be at in 2, 3 days here or tomorrow or whatever, but I wake up every morning, come to the rink and try and get a skate in, get out there and play hockey and it's been feeling better, so that's all I can ask," Wilson said. "Just gotta keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully, I wake up one morning and feels okay to put in the skate and play a hockey game."

Head coach Peter Laviolette said that Wilson and Nic Dowd, who skated in a non-contact jersey, are on similar timelines, though he doesn't know exactly when a return will be. Wilson and Dowd are both on injured reserve.