WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO BRING THE CUP TO
WASHINGTON?
ML: Luck.
TW: Winning the last game. What some fans
don’t understand, is it’s so tough to get that
final win in playoff hockey. That’s the kind of
thing we probably need to do a little better,
to close them out when we can because we
had three chances to do it last year.
WHAT WERE THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE 2014-2015
SEASON?
TW: The difference between our first and
second year in how much our team played as
a team, together and how much we bought
into the system, it helped a ton.
ML: Our locker room is really good. There’s
no one outcast. That goes a long way in
hockey.
WHAT IS THE LOCKER ROOM VIBE RIGHT NOW?
TW: We felt like we left something on the
table last year, so it’s exciting to get back. No
one wanted to leave last year and everyone
was kind of bummed. But now we’re back.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE NEW CAPITAL, T.J. OSHIE. HIS
PICKUP IS BEING TOUTED AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
MOVES IN THE LEAGUE RIGHT NOW.
ML: It was huge. He is one of the best players
in the league and I think our top six is really
legit now We had a good top six last year but
we didn’t have an elite top six.
TW: You hear nothing but good things from
everyone throughout the hockey world.
Everyone I talk to is like “oh you got that
Oshie? He’s a great dude you’re going to love
him.” That’s exciting.
THE CAPITALS HAVE HAD A CONSISTENT PRESENCE
IN THE PLAYOFFS IN THE LAST DECADE, DESPITE
NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING HOME A CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?
TW: Playoff hockey is such a unique thing,
where every single thing matters.You have to
be so dialed in on everything If you miss one
pass or you don’t block one shot…
ML: One mess up or one bad bounce off
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Michael Latta (Photo by Washington Capitals Photography)
the boards or one bad line change, so many
little things go into the dynamic of the game.
I’m really excited about this year though. I
think we are better on paper than we were
last year.
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGES UNDER
THE LEADERSHIP OF COACH TROTZ?
ML: We played more as a team. We obviously
brought in some new players, but we are
just working hard and sacrificing for one
another.
TW: Everyone knows their role and what
“[The Stanley Cup] has been
our dream since we were
five year olds playing hockey
in the driveway and now
we have a team that could
actually do it”
they need to do. If you mess up you know it,
but he doesn’t kill you.You know where you
stand with him.
TOM, THERE’S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS
YEAR BEING A TRANSITION YEAR FOR YOU AND A
TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITY.
TW: It has gotta be expected, it’s my third year
in the league. Obviously, I had that physical
role in the league, but I want to be a bigger
part of the team now. Whatever role I get I’ll
| O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com
Tom Wilson (Photo by Washington Capitals Photography)
be happy with but I want to move up.
LIGHTNING ROUND:
BEST NIGHT OUT IN WASHINGTON?
ML: After the Winter Classic game, all of our
friends and families were in town and we all
went out. That’s all I’m saying.
TW: Team parties are the real fun nights
because you don’t get to see a lot of the older
guys out for dinner because they have their
families so when we are all together it’s fun.
LAST MOVIE YOU SAW ?
TW: “Titanic.”
ML: That’s him, not me.
TW: Nah, it was “Straight Outta Compton.”
Latts had already seen it and he still took me,
it’s that good.
MOST PLAYED SONG ON YOUR IPOD?
TW: J. Biebs “What do you Mean?”
ML: T Swift gets a lot of airtime too.
WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
TW: I can answer for you, you’ve got the
biggest man crush in the world. Brad Pitt.
ML: No, Markie Mark for sure.
TW: The guy who played Tim Riggins for
me.
ML: The guy’s never done one movie since
“Friday Night Lights.”
TW: Well, he nailed that role so if he can nail
my role like he did Riggins then that would
be a good choice.
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