Capitals’ Tom Wilson named to NHL All-Star Game after Alex Ovechkin tests positive for COVID-19

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson has been suspended by the NHL five times.

Wednesday, however, the league gave him a regular-season honor by naming him to the NHL All-Star Game as a replacement.

Wilson got the chance when Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tested positive for COVID-19, making him ineligible for Wednesday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, plus the event being held this weekend in Las Vegas. He had been elected by fans as captain of the Metropolitan Division.

Wilson is known for his devastating hitting, which doesn’t fit in well in a no-checking exhibition game. But he also has shown a scoring touch.

With 31 points heading into the break, he’s on pace to easily beat his career high of 44 points from the shortened 2019-20 season. He had 15 points (plus a suspension) in 21 games when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018.

His last suspension was for seven games in March 2021.

Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux was named Metropolitan captain in Ovechkin’s place.

The league also announced that Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault was going to the game. Both he and Wilson are making their first appearances.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL names Tom Wilson to All-Star Game with Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin out