Season Overview:

The man who is known exclusively for his play in the postseason reminded us all why that is during the regular season.  Colin Wilson scored a mediocre 12 goals, and added in 23 assists to complete the season with a measly 35 points.

Furthermore, he had an almost exactly average corsi for % at 53.1, and didn’t do much better in his relative corsi for %, only generating a 1.9. These numbers may seem low, but they are almost all improvements on his career averages in these statistical categories. This tells us a pretty complete story of Colin Wilsons’ time with the Predators; we all kept waiting for Wilson to break out and be an offensive superstar, but it just never clicked.

But ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts, because it’s time for Playoff Colin Wilson. The Nashville legend that spoke of five goals in six games against the Blackhawks, and 13 points in 14 games during the 2016 playoffs was ready to take form. Unfortunately, Wilson preferred to prepare himself for his time in Colorado by doing practically nothing during the playoffs, earning only two goals and two assists. The one moment where everyone was ready to see his power unleashed was responded to with a resounding “meh.”

However, let’s not over exaggerate too much here. Colin Wilson was not terrible by any means. He only committed 10 penalties all year, and when he did shoot the puck, he was taking solid shots.

The chart above, made by hockeyviz.com, shows us good shot selection and a shooter that likes to get into high danger zones, something the Predators have needed for a long time. And he’s not a bad shooter, at 10.6% on the season… he just didn’t shoot much. Maybe a good shooter that doesn’t shoot is… not a good shooter?

Colin Wilson, what even are you?

Best Moment of the Season

When deciding this, one play certainly stood out to me. Late in the 2nd period of a decisive Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, the Predators needed a goal. Colin Wilson showed us what could’ve been, by orchestrating a last minute possession on the power play that ended with a backhanded goal off the iron.

Worst Moment of the Season

The worst moment of the season was not actually during any game, practice, or press conference. No, the worst moment of the season for Colin Wilson happened in a shiny new arena in Nevada. In that arena, James Neal was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft. Why blame this on Mr. Wilson? The reason goes back to last year, around this time, when the idea of a Vegas hockey team became a reality. The debates on who to expose to the coming draft revolved around Neal, Calle Jarnkrok, Smith, and Wilson. But due to the ineptitude of the Connecticut born winger, he wasn’t even considered, and made the decision of George McPhee quite simple. Now, Nealer is in Sin City, and he took all of our hearts with him.

Trending Up or Down?

I will say up but with a very cautious tone. Sure, he did improve off of the season prior, but it wasn’t by much, and the production this year still wasn’t at par. Is there a chance he breaks through in Colorado and becomes what Nashville always wanted him to be? Sure. But we just haven’t seen anything to show that’s true.

Grade: C-

Was he “Cody Mcleod” bad? No. Did I get excited when he was on the ice? Also no. He had a very average year in terms of his career, and I would say when you compare him with some of the guys he should be on par with, he was sub-par.

What grade would you give Colin Wilson?