CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Garrett Wilson is ready for the season to begin.
Wilson and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's season ended April 26, with a 7-3 loss to the Charlotte Checkers to complete a first-round sweep. It was a long summer, much longer than he or anyone anticipated. The disappointing end to the season has made him even more hungry to get back into game action.
"Its definitely tough any time you get swept," Wilson, a left wing, told me after the Penguins' morning skate in Cranberry. "It was tough. We wanted to go for a long run for (Tom Kostopoulos), and we came up really short. It definitely fueled the fire all summer."
Wilson, who will play tonight in the Penguins' first preseason game against the Sabres, is ready to wash the bad taste of last postseason out of his mouth.
"It's always good to get the first game out of the way," Wilson said. "It should be a fun atmosphere with the first game, we should have a good crowd. It's always good to get the games going and see all your hard work in the summer paying off. I'm excited to get going."
Despite the abysmal postseason performance from Wilkes-Barre, last season was a successful one for Wilson as an individual. With 17 goals and 25 assists in 69 games, he set a new season-high in points for his professional career.
"I stayed healthy all year, that helps a lot," Wilson said of his production. "I played with Daniel Sprong and he's really an offensive threat. That was fun playing with him all season. Great linemates, Gage Quinney as well. It was a fun year, when you're winning it makes everything better. Hopefully we can have another year like that."
Many of Wilson's goals came within feet of the net. He's one of the team's stronger net-front presences. He showed up on the scoresheet often with a rebound or redirect, and he indirectly contributed to many other goals with his goaltender screens.
? GOAL! ? Garrett Wilson's redirect ties it for the #WBSPens, 2-2!
?: @GoToCzucz
?: @jsdea10 pic.twitter.com/VK0A9NpPFt
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) March 3, 2018
? GOAL! ? Garrett Wilson gives the #WBSPens a 4-1 lead on a redirect of Pedan's shot! His 15th goal of the season.
?: @AndreyPedan (2nd point of the game)
?: @sprong97 pic.twitter.com/tjN7pAKF4U
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) March 25, 2018
? GOAL! ? @AndreyPedan gives the #WBSPens a 3-1 lead! His first goal since Feb. 2, 8th goal of the season. Nice work by Garrett Wilson on the screen.
?: @Haggerty39 pic.twitter.com/q2WyFDp9CM
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) March 25, 2018
During camp, Wilson has shown those same qualities, mostly on a line with Ryan Haggerty and Tobias Lindberg. All three have scored goals during the scrimmages. Sept. 16, he scored on a redirect of an Olli Maatta shot while screening the goaltender.
Tonight, with Haggerty and Lindberg out of the lineup, Wilson will play on a line with Jean-Sebastien Dea and fellow tough guy Anthony Angello.
Wilson brings much physicality to the Penguins' lineup. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he's been one of the bigger guys on the ice during training camp. With the loss of muscle such as Jarred Tinordi, Andrey Pedan, and Tom Sestito this offseason, Wilson's role becomes all the more important.
"The style of play I play, I try to bring it every night," he said. "I'm not going to change much, I'm just going to keep on playing my game, and definitely try to be as physical as I can."
Wilson's seven fights last season were the most of any Penguin last season. While the game is seeing a decrease in fighting -- even in the AHL -- he still anticipates that being one aspect of his game, and will step up to defend his teammates when needed.
"It's slowly working its way out of the game, which is unfortunate," Wilson said of fighting. "But that's the type of style I play —physical, in-your-face kind of game. Usually with that style of play, fights come with that. I'll be ready to go if that happens."
Wilson is the obvious choice to be named captain of Wilkes-Barre after Kostopoulos' retirement. The 27-year-old was an alternate captain for the Penguins the past two seasons, and he's previously worn the "A" for the Portland Pirates and San Antonio Rampage during his time in the AHL. He won the team's Media Award last season for his cooperation with the media.
Of course, Wilson's goal isn't to be in Wilkes-Barre, it's to be here, in Pittsburgh. But, if he does end up back in Wilkes-Barre (and he should), he's looking forward to taking on the role.
"Right now it's not (something I think about)," he said of a potential captaincy. "My goal is to make this team here. But whatever happens, happens. If I go down to Wilkes and they want me to wear the "C" that'd be an honor. Right now I'm focused on trying to make this team, and just try to bring it every night."
Kostopoulos, long-time captain and leader in almost every statistical category for the Wilkes-Barre franchise, leaves big shoes to fill. You can't ever replace "TK", but Wilson is up to the task.
"Not one person can replace that guy," Wilson said. "His leadership, his professionalism that he brought every day to the rink, it's going to be team effort, a leadership group to try to come together and fill his void."