Former first-rounder Wilson finally lighting lamp with Predators

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/03/2015 (4107 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NASHVILLE — It wasn’t supposed to take this long.

Colin Wilson can’t explain why the light didn’t go on sooner, but the Winnipegger is finally living up to his first-round promise.

Wilson, son of former NHLer Carey Wilson, scored his 20th goal of the season this week to crest that mark for the first time in his six-year pro career.

Injuries and surgery on both shoulders have slowed Wilson’s production in the past, but the seventh-overall selection in the 2008 draft says the biggest difference in his game has come from his mental approach.

“I’m going to the net and at the same time the team is throwing pucks to the net. I’m trying to get into the gritty areas for a lot of rebound goals,” said Wilson, 25. “I’m trying to develop more of an attack game. Before, I stayed more on the perimeter trying to make plays. Now, when I have it, I’m trying to get to the net and if I don’t have it I’m at the net.”

Wilson’s career has gone in fits and spurts and every time it seemed he would realize his potential an injury or a lockout would get in the way.

This season, with 20 goals and 20 assists in 62 games. He’s been a consistent producer.

There was also a struggle to find a niche in former Predators coach Barry Trotz’s system, but new bench boss Peter Laviolette says Wilson has been a key player for his team.

“I had conversations with Colin in the summer, he was training hard. It was an open book for everybody, coming in here and getting the opportunities they would receive and how they would handle that opportunity,” said Laviolette.

“He’s (Wilson) been such a strong player for us the entire year. His speed and his ability to protect the puck and create offence has been so noticeable from day one. He’s very consistent as well. It’s been a good year for him and he’s been one of our top players.”

Wilson says Laviolette has been patient with him and allowed him to work through mistakes or lulls in his game. But at the end of the day it’s up to the player to make the coach trust him, according to Wilson.

“I realize I’m 25 and I can’t play on potential anymore. It’s time to start playing harder. I think it’s been good timing and (Laviolette) has been great with me,” said Wilson.

“We (Laviolette) talked during the summer after he was named head coach about what he sees for me and how I feel about everything. As soon as I started here he was giving me some suggestions. He told me that he was big fan of my game even before he started coaching, gave me some confidence, and we’ve been talking throughout the season.”

There’s an old expression in hockey about crossing over a major statistical number. Score 20 one year and the expectations are for 30 the next.

“It’s hard to say. I’m obviously really happy with the year that I’ve had and I’m going to keep playing that same style of game,” Wilson said.

“I think I’ve changed my game up slightly this year and I don’t know how it’s going to progress, but right now I’m happy with where I am. You have to play a little bit more gritty trying to beat the defenders to the net, get around them, play a bit of a stronger game.

“It is definitely a harder style of game. It’s also a mentality. You could play that perimeter game, make good passes in college or the minors, you can get away with it. But once you’re in the NHL it’s so hard to score goals. I think I was looking for the pretty passes… when you look, more NHL goals are scored right in the paint, you just have to make sure you’re getting there.”

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless