Tom Wilson has built a reputation as one of the NHL's most intimidating power forwards and toughest enforcers.
The Washington Capitals star is known for his physical style, but according to former teammate Connor McMichael, there is much more to Wilson than his reputation as one of hockey's most feared players.
During an appearance on the Cam & Strick Podcast, McMichael, now a member of the St. Louis Blues, discussed Wilson's fierce approach to the game and recalled one of the angriest moments he had ever seen from the Capitals forward.
"He's honestly such a good dude," McMichael said . "He's super nice, but at the same time, when it comes to hockey, he's super intense and he's a great leader."
McMichael also explained that Wilson is not someone opponents want to provoke. "On the ice, if you get under his skin, he always says, 'Don't wake me up.' I always hear him saying that: 'Don't wake me up.' When he gets real mad, he gets real mad. He's willing to do anything for his teammates, whether it's block a shot, step in to fight after a big hit or deal with dirty plays. He does it all."
However, McMichael said the angriest he had ever seen Wilson came during Game 3 of the Capitals' playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens on April 25, 2025.
"The angriest I've ever seen him, though, was probably a couple of years ago in the playoffs when he and Anderson went into the bench there. He was not happy about that. Even going into the intermission, he was still seeing red. I was even scared of him then," McMichael said.
The bench brawl between Wilson and Josh Anderson became one of the most memorable moments of the series. The incident followed a buildup of tension throughout the physical matchup, along with the long-standing rivalry between the two power forwards.
The bad blood had already started during warmups when Wilson and Canadiens rookie Arber Xhekaj exchanged words at the red line. Things escalated late in the second period when Cole Caufield scored with just eight seconds remaining to give Montreal the lead.
As both teams headed toward their dressing rooms, Wilson went after Xhekaj. Anderson, who had a history with Wilson dating back to their junior hockey days, stepped in to defend his teammate and pulled Wilson away.
The confrontation quickly spilled into Washington's bench area. Linesman Kyle Flemington tried to separate the two players, but Wilson fought past the official and continued throwing punches while Anderson fought back.
The altercation became so chaotic that Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery had to step over the bench wall to avoid getting caught in the middle of the fight.
Eventually, both players fell onto the bench before the confrontation finally ended.
Wilson and Anderson were each assessed a minor penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. They were also later fined $5,000 each, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
ALSO READ: 2-Time Stanley Cup Champ Outlines Why He'd Take Sidney Crosby Over Alex Ovechkin
For McMichael, the incident perfectly captured the side of Wilson that opponents have learned to deal with throughout his career.
