Tom Wilson Thanks Fans For Support After ACL Surgery: ‘I’ll Be Back’

After undergoing surgery to reconstruct a torn ACL in his left knee, Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson took to social media to thank fans for their support.

Wilson posted an Instagram story on Wednesday after the news came out, showing his appreciation to supporters. The 28-year-old is expected to miss 6-8 months for the Capitals as he recovers and rehabilitates his left knee.

“Thank you everyone for all the well wishes,” Wilson wrote. “The Caps family is the best. I’ll be back.”

Wilson suffered the torn ACL in the early minutes of Game 1 in Washington’s first-round series against the Florida Panthers. The 6-4, 220-pound winger went in for a hit on MacKenzie Weegar and turned onto his left leg to slow down and try to avoid the hit. He’d skated just 1:31 minutes and scored the series-opening goal.

“It was kind of a weird, kind of freak thing… it just kind of sucked that it happened at this time,” Wilson said. “I was pretty good all season. And then kind of a freak thing. Your guess is as good as mine… I tried it out and it was no good.”

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As the Capitals tried to keep their playoff hopes alive, Wilson skated twice and spoke with head trainer Jason Serbus and the team’s doctors and medical staff to see if he could attempt a comeback in the postseason. However, Washington was eliminated in six games, spoiling any potential comeback.

“We have a great training staff, good doctors and it was one of those things where I was trying to be the unique situation or the odd person that can do it,” Wilson noted. “You get a brace and you get out there, and there’s a chance. So I was trying everything I could. I just wasn’t able to do it.”

Wilson is coming off a career season that saw him dish 24 goals, 28 assists and 52 points through 73 games. He also continued to play a strong two-way game and served a vital role on special teams and maintained his physicality while playing a more disciplined overall game as well.