Tom Wilson Got His Face Bludgeoned For High Sticking Zach Parise, And It Couldn't Have Happened To A Nicer Guy

Tom Wilson high stick on Zach Parise:

Oh man, what a shame. It's tough to see a sweetheart like Tom Wilson end up in a precarious situation. Just innocently wandering through the neutral zone with his stick at eye level like you're taught to do the first time you lace up your skates and Zach Parise just so happened to run right into it as it was on it's way towards his face. I think we should take some time to remind people that there's absolutely nothing from Tom Wilson's past that would suggest that there could possibly be more to this than one guy trying to put himself in the best position to knock down an completely unexpected errant dump-in. Every hockey player knows that when you're on defense you should always keep your stick in a passing lane, and with the NHL's current talent level even three feet over your right shoulder is a potential path for the puck. I'm not saying it definitely wasn't on purpose, but - let's be honest - something like that would be totally out of character for a player that spent his entire career getting robbed of 'Lady Byng' awards.

Tom Wilson fight with Chris Stewart:

That's definitely why no one seems to be mentioning the fact that Chris Stewart hit him with a ferocious flurry of rights when he was in a vulnerable position. It's not like it's universally understood that a scrap is over when both players fall to the ice or something. A player with such a spotless resume always has to answer to an accidental double minor with his fists. That's just part of the code. I'm positive that the Minnesota Wild didn't seek retribution on Tom Wilson because they questioned his intentions. They just wanted to let him know he has to be a bit more careful when swatting flies with the most dangerous tool of his trade. I know it seems like a harsh punishment for someone that's nevvvvver had the NHL's Department Of Player Safety working overtime, but the only way to teach a guy not to carry his stick like a javelin is to bloody his face in a relentless and disorderly fashion.