Capitals sign Wilson to 7-year, $45.5M extension

The Washington Capitals signed forward Tom Wilson to a seven-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6.5 million, the team announced Friday.

Wilson's entering the final season of a six-year pact signed in 2018 that carried a cap hit just under $5.2 million. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The 29-year-old tallied 13 goals and 22 points in 33 games in an injury-riddled campaign last season. He set career highs with 24 goals and 52 points in 2021-22.

"Feeling extremely honored today as I get to sign an extension with the city that I've called home for the last 10 years," Wilson said on social media. "Being a Cap means so much to me, and I can't wait to continue to compete and leave it all out there with this team."

The new deal signs Wilson through the 2030-31 campaign when he'll be 36 years old. He has a 15-team no-trade clause for the first four years of the contract, which becomes a 10-team list for the final three seasons, according to CapFriendly.

"Tom possesses all the intangibles needed to win in this league, and we are extremely pleased to sign him to a long-term contract, giving him the opportunity to finish his career in a Capitals uniform," Washington general manager Brian MacLellan said in a statement.

"Throughout his career, Tom has improved every facet of his game through his drive and competitiveness. We feel his work ethic and leadership qualities will be a tremendous asset to our organization for years to come," MacLellan added.

Wilson has accrued 128 goals and 295 points in 680 games with the Capitals over 10 seasons. He was drafted by Washington 16th overall in 2012.

The Capitals have eight forwards signed to NHL contracts for the 2024-25 season after the signing, combining for just under $47 million of cap space. Wilson will be the fourth-highest-paid forward on the roster after Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov.