17. Sebastian Collberg
18. Matt Finn
19. Andrei Vasilevski
20. Slater Koekkoek
21. Henrik Samuelsson
22. Derrick Pouliot
23. Tomas Hertl
24. Hampus Lindholm
25. Nicolas Kerdiles
26. Scott Laughton
27. Ludvig Bystrom
28. Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves
29. Oscar Dansk
30. Malcolm Subban
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Washington has pushed ever closer, showing some great work ethic and determination under now-former Head Coach, Dale Hunter. They posses enormous amounts of skill in the likes of Ovechkin, Backstrom and Green, but have yet to compliment them with the right personnel for a Cup run. With the shift in philosophy for teams to get bigger and nastier, that could be a priority for McPhee.
"With the sixteenth pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Washington is proud to select, from the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League:
Tom Wilson."
A massive forward with a man-like body
(6'4, 210 lbs) at an early age, Wilson is the kind of forward that every NHL GM wishes he had one of, fully developed. He has a nice healthy amount of skill and off-sets that with a mean disposition, and a whole lot of nastiness to go with it. Teams play noticeably different when Wilson jumps over the boards and they know he's on the ice. It's the 'intimidation factor.'
After scoring only nine goals and 27 points in the regular season, playing mostly down the lineup on a very good Plymouth team, Wilson got a chance to play in a scoring role in the playoffs when injuries arose. He responded well with seven goals and 13 points in as many games, showcasing his skill levels and ability to go to the net when it mattered.
Utilizing his size and strength, Wilson has the ability to do a lot with the puck on his stick. He displays very quick hands and can move through tight spaces. He's very effective in cycling the puck down low and then powering his way to the net with it. And then to top that off, he has a very heavy shot, with a very good release to find the back of the net.
Along the boards, he's a one-man wrecking crew, controlling the puck with his bludgeoning power and long reach. In front of the net, there are very few who can move his massive body.
For a big man, Wilson is a good skater. He's mobile and has the ability to keep up when others of his size might not be able to. While he can be beaten to pucks by speedier forwards, there's no reason to criticize his skating as a liability.
He's a willing two-way player who comes back to break up plays and block shots, as well. When a team mate is in trouble, he willingly drops the gloves and can man handle others. While he may never be the best fighter, he does have an ability to go and do some damage in that regard.
Wilson makes life miserable for those on the ice, putting defensemen through the boards with bone-crushing hits on the forecheck.
While not the most creative of forwards, Wilson is big, mean and skilled. He's a good skater, and has the ability to really compliment skill well. While there are always concerns over a player of this ilk and their ultimate translation, there's no denying the impact he could have if his game does, in fact, translate. Ask Boston.
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