Tom Wilson on why he refused to throw down with Mathieu Olivier

Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals is never one to back down from a fight it seems, until now. Wilson played his first game of the season Sunday Night after returning from ACL surgery in the offseason. At one point in the game, he got tangled up with Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets near the corner, and Olivier clearly wanted to go. Wilson told him no.

"He's a tough player. Plays honest, plays hard," said Wilson. "I think he wanted to fight and [I] just said, 'Hey, give me a game to get my body back into it here.'"

Wilson said he also didn't see much point in dropping the gloves with his team up by one more than halfway through the second period.

"Those are the great part of hockey and why you play the game and the passion and the competitive nature, it's fun going up against those guys," Wilson said. "But I had to politefully decide at that point in the game."

That sure doesn't sound like the Tom Wilson most hockey fans are used to, but I'm sure that guy will be back as soon as Wilson gets his legs underneath him.

MUST READ

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Vancouver Canucks' Contract Offer to Brock Boeser Leaks Publicly

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Montreal Canadiens Star Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Philadelphia Flyers Officially Looking to Trade Former 39-Goal Scorer

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Evander Kane May Be in His Final Days in Edmonton After Friedman Reveals New Information

Feb 28  |  By Jack Sutherland Maple Leafs Forward Pulls Back Trade Request

Feb 27  |  By Jack Sutherland Brad Marchand Goes Viral for Passionate Video Ahead of Four Nations Faceoff Final

Feb 27  |  By Jack Sutherland David Pastrnak's Latest Comments Suggest Bruins Will Be Big Sellers at the Deadline

Feb 27  |  By Julien Trekker 6-Foot-6 Winger Linked to the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline

MORE STORIES