Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson isn't ruling out the possibility of teammate T.J. Oshie returning this season, despite Oshie dealing with a chronic back injury.
After a tough 2023-24 season, Oshie and the Capitals' General Manager, Chris Patrick, announced that Oshie is expected to spend the entire 2024-25 season on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). While Oshie's absence is a big loss for the team, his spot is likely to be filled by offseason addition Andrew Mangiapane.
Even though it seems unlikely that Oshie will play this season, Tom Wilson remains hopeful. In a recent interview, Wilson expressed his best wishes for Oshie's health and said he wouldn't be surprised if his teammate managed to rehab and return for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"Who knows, you never count Osh out," Wilson said. "He could go and get some rehab and show up for playoffs. Who knows? I'll keep my hopes up. But wishing him and his family, obviously, the health at this stage in your life and your careers is first and foremost and most important. So I want him to take care of himself."