tomtom! my fellow aries bro, i am sorry i cannot see you for your actual birthday (i'll probably facetime you tbh), but i hope that it's still one of the best birthdays you've ever had. i'm so lucky i get to exist in your world and experience some of the biggest moments of our lives together. we've been through a lot, but having you be a part of it all makes even the hard times, good times. here's to another year of awesomeness for you, my friend. i hope that all of your wishes come true. happy birthday! i miss you so much. xo neens

tom, where do i even begin with this to describe you and what you mean to me. you have been my brother the last few years and i don't know where i would be without you. you have always stood up for me, even when i didn't know how to stand up for myself. we've had our ups and downs where we fought but i couldn't do this crazy rollercoaster ride without you. you are one of the best things in my life, i can't wait to see what the future holds in store for you and what greatness life will bring you. i love you little brother. rojo

hi tom, alex here. where to begin? thanks for just...everything. literally everything. i've gotten to see you grow into the old man you're becoming for quite a while now and it's been an honor and privilege seeing it. i'm so proud of the person, husband, and friend you've become and continue to be. keep sharing your loyalty, heart, protection, and selflessness with the world. i hope 26 is as sweet to you as the past year of your life has been because you deserve every good thing that comes your way. happy birthday, willy!

tom,

when i think about the last handful of years of my life, you are part of so many of the important memories that i have. it's truly been a fucking privilege to be a part of your life and to have you be a part of mine and even more so that i've gotten to see you grow, to see you overcome, and to see you find true happiness. when i have had to jump over my own hurdles, whether professionally or personally, you've been there, you've always had my back, and i've never doubted it or you. thank you for that. all of us here are lucky to have you in our lives and i hope you know that you've got a whole fucking squad of humans who love the fuck out of you. have the most amazing birthday because you deserve it.

love you!!! dylly

happy birthday tom!! i know we don't talk a lot but i want you to know that i think very highly of you, not only because you're a great husband to nico but 'cause i think you're a great dude overall. i love your positive outlook on life and that you support your loved ones, no matter what. i hope you have the best birthday ever. stay healthy, stay happy, stay awesome. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN. ps. your team sucks ;)

tom, i don't even know where tf to start with you. you've been like a brother to me since the first day we talked and i can't believe our entire friendship started because of blow up dolls and evolved into what it is now. ur truly one of the most realest, most genuine ppl out there, not afraid to speak their mind and always having people's backs, without question. that's something i really admire about u, your loyalty you show to those around you and how you are not afraid to stand up to others for the people you care about. it's been sick getting to know u for the past year. thank you for all the pep talks, advice, and also just being a sounding board for me when i needed it. this has been a fucking incredible yr for you (U GOT FUCKING MARRIED) and i hope this next one is even better!!!! your friend, petri dish

tom is hands down one of the greatest people i've ever met. from day one he has been so thoughtful but also so honest, transparent, and caring. i have seen him go through so many ups and downs over the past couple years and he has persevered through them all, and in the end, he has turned into the happiest version of himself that i have ever seen and we are all so lucky to know him, because as long as you know him, you know you always have someone in your corner. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMMY

HELLO TOM you wonderful human, i hope you have the most amazing birthday you've ever had (and i know that since you're spending it with the most amazing human i've ever known, you will). for your birthday i have prepared a haiku for you:

tom makes nico smile
so tom makes richard smile too
where is toronto

tom,

you are by far one of the best friends i have. no matter the gaps in talking and distance between us, you've always been there for me. i am so sorry that i can't celebrate your birthday with you. i hope it's an amazing one. i love you

dylan

tom!!! HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY!! wow!!! you are one of the best people in dis world and i hope you know i mean that with my whole dang heart. every conversation i have with you always puts a smile on my face OR teaches me something!! you're a rare type of gem who's able to make people laugh, make them feel loved and make them feel completely comfortable to be themselves and personally, my weird/pisces/emo ass REALLY THANKS YOU FOR BEING LIKE THIS. i hope you have the best day and year yet! you just keep gettin better with age my friend and I'm pumped to see what's in store for you next. EAT ALL THE DAMN CAKE THE UNIVERSE HAS PROMISE ME THAT!!!!

my sweet Tom, where does one even begin? the first time we spoke i knew off the bat you were such a kind and wonderful soul. you have shown me nothing but kindness, compassion and provided so many laughs to me and everyone you surround yourself with. anytime we speak or i get a ping from you, it truly is a light in my whole day. i cannot wait to see where the next year takes you and i feel so grateful to even be able to be apart of it. here is to a year of laughter, love, smiles, trex memes, and so many memories to come. love you to the moon and back my sweet friend 💛

tomtom

i know that in the past we had a lil bumpy ride there, but we both grew as people and we both moved on and forward in life together. i know we don't talk as much as we should maybe but i'm not so great with being social at times. this isn't about my shortcomings though! over the last few years i've gotten to know you better as a person, and i've gotten to see you grow as a person on and off the ice. as i started before, i know we don't talk as much as we should but i know that if i ever EVER needed you, you'd be there. you've volunteered to be a sounding board when i am drowning in my own self dislike and thoughts and the same goes to you, no judgements and i know no judgements from you. watching your growth as a person on and off the ice has been amazing, and i am so proud of you. i know it takes a lot of guts to look at yourself and say hey you're being a shitbag and to make those changes, because change IS hard. anyone who wants to judge you or place you a box that just basically says goon is someone who is diminishing who you are as a person. over the last few years, i've seen your goals and assists go up, and your pims go down. but off the ice, you are one of the most kind hearted souls that i know. you can be tough when you need to be tough, and i know you're not afraid to call people out on their bullshit, which is 100% refreshing because i know people struggling with that. you are one of the better people in this world, and i am so lucky that i get to call you a friend. love ya, happy birthday!

xx kells

odell: tom annoys me because he doesn't fight w me on plato
odell: tom proves yet again to be annoying by keeping an opposite schedule as me
odell: tom stuns yet again by being annoyingly tall
odell: tom reaches new heights of annoyance by lookin like the stud from a john hughes movie
odell: and the most annoying thing about tom is that he seems perfectly reasonable and decent

tom,

HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! 🎈🎉🎁🎈🎉🎁🎈🎉🎁🎈🎉🎁🎈🎉🥳🎁🎂🎉🎈🎈🎉 let me tell you, that’s a ton of excitement. yet, somehow it’s not enough to truly appreciate the person you are. of course, i’m speaking from what i’ve seen, because i’ve always admired you from afar. i’m like the #1 tom wilson silent supporter - and i’d venture to guess there are plenty more like me out there. i mean, you have such an upbeat personality, you’re endlessly supportive of everyone, and you come off like such a genuinely caring, thoughtful person. so, that’s to say, i know i’m not the only one who admires the dude you’ve become in all of your years.

just from the stuff i’ve seen, our interactions and the things i’ve heard nico say about you, i gotta say: i’m really glad you were born, that you exist, and that you’ve become the person you are today. thanks for always being the positive, supportive person who’s never afraid of being sentimental and showing how much you care about something. as a fellow sentimental dude, it's something i've always admired about you. also, thanks for being someone who understands how annoying wet socks are. you really feel me on that. but for real, you’re an extremely rad, talented dude who deserves all of the success, happiness, and love in the world. i’m gonna keep rooting for you on and off the rink, that’s for sure.

that said, i hope you celebrate the fuck out of your day ‘cause you’re a guy who deserves to be celebrated. have the best day, my dude. and an even better year.

- christian mccaffrey