Tom Wilson somehow avoids suspension for punching Pavel Buchnevich in back of head, body slamming Artemi Panarin head first onto ice

It’s been a minute since Tom Wilson was in the headlines for doing something stupid on the ice. He isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, so you knew it was only a matter of time before that changed. But somehow he has avoided suspension.

The NHL has fined the Washington Capitals forward $5,000 (the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement) for punching Pavel Buchnevich in the back of the head and then body slam Artemi Panarin head first onto the ice with no helmet following a stoppage of play during the team’s 6-3 win over the New York Rangers on Monday night. He was given a 10-minute game misconduct for his actions

Here’s why we think this is so surprising: He has already been suspended five times throughout his career for dirty plays. He recently served a seven-game suspension for his hit on Boston Bruins defence man Brandon Carlo back in March. With his checkered past and the fact he is a ‘repeat offender’, it felt like a lengthy suspension was inevitable. But clearly the NHL didn’t feel that way

Check out what he did below and see for yourself. Do you think the lack of punishment was justified?