
Pro : Colin Wilson
Yes, yes, this is tentative territory. Last year saw Wilson as a 20 goal scorer who notched 5 points in 6 playoff games (ala ‘Playoff Colin Wilson’) promoting a ton of hype for the forward who subsequently underwhelmed all of Smashville this past season, causing all of those who purchased a brand new “33” jersey to find a nice cozy space at the back of their closets.
Well, Nashville’s playoff run necessitated some cobweb clearing and a good wash cycle, because “33” was running cylinders nobody knew he had. This ‘Playoff Colin Wilson’ was not last year’s ‘Playoff Colin Wilson’- he was much, much better.
Last year’s version, though managing points, still only marked a -1 plus/minus. This year’s Wilson racked up an easily team-leading 13 points in 14 games on his way to a +8 rating. He established zone control, used his body like an All-Pro, and was consistently the team’s best player, even on nights when the Predators took a loss.
He looked like a seventh overall draft pick, and he had fans praising the fact that he wasn’t traded for Scott Hartnell at the trade deadline, after all. If Wilson has found his game at long last, Nashville’s forward core and future becomes exponentially brighter.
And the last Pro? Con?
Next: Pro/Con: The True Story