When the Nashville Predators selected Boston University star Colin Wilson in the first round of the 2008 draft, speculation was that he would sign. Instead of foregoing his last three years of college eligibility to turn pro when he may not have been able to play in the NHL, Wilson returned to school.It turned out to be a great decision. Wilson grew into the sport's top offensive player, his team won a national championship, and he has gotten a big payday from the Predators to turn pro now.
Wilson made his decision on Friday, signing a three-year deal with the Predators. The Tennessean reports the deal could be worth more than $5 million.
Predators general manager David Poile says Wilson will play in the upcoming World Championships in Switzerland. At 19, he'll be the youngest player on the United States team, and he's the only one who comes in without having any experience in professional hockey.
"As I said to him, 'You've been a pretty big boy playing against college guys these last couple years. Now you're going to be hopefully a big boy, but playing against men in the World Championship. So this will be a real challenge to you and certainly should give you and us a good feel of whether you're ready to play here in Nashville next year,'" Poile said.Wilson could win a spot on the Predators' roster for next season, but he'll need a strong tournament and a better summer to do it. Nashville isn't loaded with NHL stars, but they have shown a willingness to be patient with young prospects in the past. There's no reason to buck that trend now and rush Wilson.
