Adam Oates using Joe Thornton model in the development of Tom Wilson

19-year old forward Tom Wilson is averaging a team-low 7:02 of ice time for the Washington Capitals this season, but according to head coach Adam Oates, it's all part of a master plan that hearkens back to how the Boston Bruins used Joe Thornton early on in his career.

Thornton - who has amassed 1,168 points and 999 penalty minutes in 1,172 career games - has come to typify the hulking / skilled forward in the NHL, but averaged only 8:05 as a rookie while registering there goals and seven assists in 55 games.

It's this kind of track that Oates is invoking with Wilson, according to the Washington Post.

Love (Joe Thornton), love him. Great player, big physical guy, shows up every night, very durable, very strong on the puck, really like him as a player. Boston treated him great, a little bit like what we’re doing with Willy. Just had him around because they felt he belonged in the NHL, which I agree with and gave him sporadic minutes at times and more when they could, let him ease into the league.

In subsequent seasons, Thornton saw his average ice time jump to 15:21 and 21:18, with significant increases in production as a result (16 goals and 41 points his sophomore year, 23 goals and 60 points year three). Whether Wilson can replicate that kind of success is yet to be seen, but the Capitals clearly see him as having the potential to be an effective top-six forward at the NHL level.

So far this season, Wilson has registered one goal, three assists, 92 penalty minutes and 33 shots on goal.