I know Wilson's still young and developing, and there's been consistent questioning about whether he's being developed properly, so I've got a two-part question that I'm trying to resolve in my head:
1.) Where do you see Wilson topping out production-wise as things are going? Assuming he stays with the Preds long-term, and Trotz stays as coach, do you see him at his peak being a consistent 20, 30. 40 or 50 goal scorer?
2.) If put on a different team, anywhere from Detroit to LA to Edmonton, would you see him reaching a different level than you would say in #1, and if so, by how much/how soon?
I think Poile needs to talk to Trotz and figure out if Wilson isn't playing because he just needs a year to mature or if Trotz hates him. If playing on the 4th line and/or being benched is all that Wilson is ever going to do here, trade him.
It's hard for me to imagine that Poile and Trotz don't regularly talk about the players on the team.
I know Wilson's still young and developing, and there's been consistent questioning about whether he's being developed properly, so I've got a two-part question that I'm trying to resolve in my head:
1.) Where do you see Wilson topping out production-wise as things are going? Assuming he stays with the Preds long-term, and Trotz stays as coach, do you see him at his peak being a consistent 20, 30. 40 or 50 goal scorer?
2.) If put on a different team, anywhere from Detroit to LA to Edmonton, would you see him reaching a different level than you would say in #1, and if so, by how much/how soon?
As things are going right now? He probably won't get more than 20 this year based on what he did last year and things like that. If some things change (i.e. him and Trotz seeing more eye-to-eye) and he can play with confidence and let himself do what he's gifted at doing it wouldn't shock me if he gets to 30 to 35 depending on the roles he's playing. As mentioned, I think he can be a top 6 player and is the most gifted offensive talent we have at the moment. It's just completely up to him improving on defense a little and Trotz accepting the fact that he's gonna have to loosen the chains on him a little bit.
It all depends on the system he plays in and the coach he plays for. Although we were 8th in goals scored last season, we don't do it with much skill and finesse. Wilson seems to be at his best when he has space to create things and have the freedom to make moves and find the net. Naturally if you put him on a team where the defensive responsibilities by forwards aren't looked upon as harshly as they are here, the natural assumption is he would be more productive but who can really know for sure? He's definitely a guy I could see taking off and being a very good player somewhere else, I just hope it doesn't come to that because we definitely have an asset with him, it just needs to be a little more polished.
Wilson is listed as a center, but with Legwand, Fisher, Gaustad, Spaling and Smith - it would appear center is already spoken for. So does that mean he has been playing wing for the most part? Could he be a top-9 center?
Wilson has been playing wing for the better part of his NHL career. His attention to detail (read: his defensive game) is lacking, and a center in a Trotz center is essentially a third defenseman. You absolutely have to know what you're doing away from your own net to get ice time as a center in Nashville.
For all intents and purposes, Colin Wilson is now a winger. It works better that way.
Wilson has been playing wing for the better part of his NHL career. His attention to detail (read: his defensive game) is lacking, and a center in a Trotz center is essentially a third defenseman. You absolutely have to know what you're doing away from your own net to get ice time as a center in Nashville.
For all intents and purposes, Colin Wilson is now a winger. It works better that way.
It works better that way in a Trotz system. Most teams centers are not the third defenseman, but sound defensively and very creative both coming out of the D zone and entering the O zone.
Wilson was a center as far as I know, his entire career until the Preds. He is big and strong on the boards, so I sort of see why Trotz wants him there. I think he is missing out on Wilson not using him there.
Compare other teams top 2 or 3 centers. Fisher, Legwand and Spaling would all be, at best 3 or 4th line.....my opinion.
Regardless, Trotz is molding him into a dump and chase winger. Is this good?
It works better that way in a Trotz system. Most teams centers are not the third defenseman, but sound defensively and very creative both coming out of the D zone and entering the O zone.
Wilson was a center as far as I know, his entire career until the Preds. He is big and strong on the boards, so I sort of see why Trotz wants him there. I think he is missing out on Wilson not using him there.
Compare other teams top 2 or 3 centers. Fisher, Legwand and Spaling would all be, at best 3 or 4th line.....my opinion.
Regardless, Trotz is molding him into a dump and chase winger. Is this good?
Fisher and Legwand are 2nd line possibly 3rd line at the worst centers to me. 4th no way. I think Trotz will back off the dump n chase when he can get some guys ready that are a little more skilled and trust them. Hopefully one day Smith and Wilson.
Fisher and Legwand are 2nd line possibly 3rd line at the worst centers to me. 4th no way. I think Trotz will back off the dump n chase when he can get some guys ready that are a little more skilled and trust them. Hopefully one day Smith and Wilson.
Agreed, and their placement among centers in terms of production backs that up. They are low for first line centers, but would be among the most productive 2nd line centers in the league, let alone 3rd.
As to the second part, this is accurate. We will dump and chase because of having relatively few players that are skilled enough to break the neutral zone on their own. I don't really see Wilson being molded that way, it's just a tactic that all teams will use, and all players should be expected to do. His board and cycle game is rounding out very nicely, and he seems to have a bit of a power forward in him. I'd love to see Wilson and Bourque on two wings of a line to start the year, I think they could give some opponents a real tough time of it.
