Yesterday they signed restricted free agent Sergei Kostitsyn. And today they’ve signed restricted free agent Colin Wilson.
Will (you guessed it) restricted free agent Shea Weber be next? Pred Nation hopes so.
Per Kevin Wilson of Predators media relations, Wilson has inked a three year deal worth $6 million total.
The 2008 first round pick bagged 15 goals and 35 points in just 68 games last season and appears to be on track to play a major role in the Nashville attack going forward. The Greenwich, Connecticut native has found himself in Head Coach Barry Trotz‘s dog house a number of times but expressed interest in returning to Music City following the 2011-12 playoffs.
“I want to be back in Nashville,” Wilson told section303.com in May. “I love it here. This is the longest I’ve been in a place since I was 15. I love the guys here and I love the organization.”
His coach shares the sentiment.
“Yeah, I do (want him back),” Trotz said. “Colin’s a real talent. You want them to grow as players and you want them to grow as young men. The emotion part and the game part of a player has to come together. And when they’re not in sync, once they sort of get in line, the player starts to have a real good growth pattern.
“Colin’s had to learn some tough lessons on the way. Because of that, he’s had to grow. I told him ‘you need to change your game or you’re going to hit a ceiling that you don’t need to hit.’ Some players think ‘I’ve been successful so this will work all the way through my career.’ Certain aspects will but you’re going to have to grow your game in order to be effective. He’s got unlimited potential. He’s just got to get all the pieces together.”
The official press release is below.
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Nashville, Tenn. (July 24, 2012) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Colin WIlson to a three-year, $6 million contract. The Greenwich, Conn., native will make $1.5 million in 2012-13, $2 million in 2013-14 and $2.5 million in 2014-15.
Wilson, 22 (10/20/89), set career highs in assists (20) and points (35) while scoring 16 goals in 2011-12. The 6-1, 212-pounder also tied for second on the Predators in game-winning goals (5), and fourth on the club in power-play goals (5) this past season. In 185 career NHL contests since the start of the 2009-10 season, Wilson has 84 points (39g-45a).
Nashville’s first choice, seventh overall (first round), in the 2008 Entry Draft spent two seasons at Boston University prior to joining the Predators (2007-09), helping the Terriers win the 2009 NCAA National Championship and being named USA Hockey College Player of the Year in the process. Wilson was Team USA’s Most Outstanding Player at the 2009 World Junior Championships and was the only current college player to represent the Red, White and Blue at the 2009 World Championships
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PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Fuqua // Flickr (used with permission)