Colin Wilson (ice hockey)

Colin Wilson (born October 20, 1989) is an American retired professional ice hockey forward. He played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. He was drafted seventh overall by the Predators in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Colin Wilson
Wilson with the Nashville Predators during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals
Born	October 20, 1989 Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	221 lb (100 kg; 15 st 11 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Nashville Predators Colorado Avalanche
National team	United States
NHL Draft	7th overall, 2008 Nashville Predators
Playing career	2009–2019

Prior to joining the NHL, Wilson played for the Boston University Terriers in the Hockey East conference. During his sophomore year, Wilson was named to the First Team All-American and Hockey East First Team.

Playing career

Early career

After initially playing with the U.S. National Development Team Program as a junior, Wilson enrolled to play collegiate hockey with the Boston University Terriers of the Hockey East.

After his freshman year with the Terriers in 2007–08, he was awarded New England's college hockey Rookie of the Year, as well as Hockey East Rookie of the Year.[1] He was selected in the first round, 7th overall, by the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Wilson led the Terriers in points in his sophomore season. He was recognized as one of the best players in NCAA Division I with his election to the Hobey Hat Trick, a group of three players nominated to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.[2] His teammate, Matt Gilroy, eventually won the award. Wilson was named a First Team All–American, Hockey East First Team, Hockey East leading goal scorer and was second in the nation in total points.[3] The Terriers were ranked the #1 team in the nation for much of Wilson's sophomore season and went on to win the National Championship.

Nashville Predators

Wilson with the Predators in 2011.

Wilson signed a three-year entry-level contract with Nashville on April 17, 2009, following his sophomore season.[4] Wilson made his NHL debut with the Predators on October 12, 2009. He scored his first NHL goal on October 21 against Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins.[5]

Following the 2014–15 NHL season Wilson became a restricted free agent under the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Nashville Predators made him a qualifying offer to retain his NHL rights, and on July 5, 2015, Wilson filed for Salary Arbitration.[6] He signed a four-year, $15.75 million deal with the Predators on July 27, 2015.[7]

Colorado Avalanche

On July 1, 2017, Wilson was traded by the Predators to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in 2019.[8]

Wilson faced his former Nashville teammates in the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. He registered an assist as the Avalanche lost in six games, ending their season.

On July 1, 2019, Wilson agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Avalanche worth $2.6 million.[9]

Retirement

On October 29, 2020, Wilson announced that he would likely not return to professional hockey, citing his problems coping with obsessive–compulsive disorder and the substance abuse pertaining from it, as well as his struggles recovering from hip surgery the previous season.[10] On January 5, 2021, Wilson officially announced his retirement.[11]

International play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
IIHF U18 Championships
	2006 Ängelholm
	2007 Tampere

Wilson decided to represent Team USA, for whom he had played at the 2008 World Juniors. At the tournament he was tied for the most goals with 6. He was the only roster player never to have played a game in the NHL selected to represent Team USA at the 2009 IIHF World Championships in Bern/Kloten, Switzerland.[12]

Personal life

Wilson is the son of former NHL player Carey Wilson and the grandson of former NHL player Jerry Wilson. He was born in the U.S. while his father played for the New York Rangers, but he was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005–06	U.S. NTDP U17	USDP		15	9	7	16	2		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	U.S. NTDP U18	USDP		16	2	4	6	8		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	U.S. NTDP U18	NAHL		34	10	11	21	10		7	1	0	1	8
2006–07	U.S. NTDP U18	USDP		41	19	31	50	32		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	U.S. NTDP U18	NAHL		15	11	13	24	21		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Boston University	HE		37	12	23	35	22		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Boston University	HE		43	17	38	55	52		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		40	13	21	34	19		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Nashville Predators	NHL		35	8	7	15	7		6	0	1	1	0
2010–11	Nashville Predators	NHL		82	16	18	34	17		3	0	0	0	0
2011–12	Nashville Predators	NHL		68	15	20	35	21		4	1	0	1	0
2012–13	Nashville Predators	NHL		25	7	12	19	4		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Nashville Predators	NHL		81	11	22	33	21		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Nashville Predators	NHL		77	20	22	42	22		6	5	0	5	0
2015–16	Nashville Predators	NHL		64	6	18	24	14		14	5	8	13	0
2016–17	Nashville Predators	NHL		70	12	23	35	18		14	2	2	4	2
2017–18	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		56	6	12	18	6		6	0	1	1	0
2018–19	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		65	12	15	27	8		12	4	4	8	2
2019–20	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		9	0	4	4	0		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				632	113	173	286	138		65	17	16	33	4

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006	United States	U17			6	6	2	8	2
2006	United States	WJC18			6	0	1	1	8
2007	United States	WJC18			7	5	7	12	4
2008	United States	WJC	4th		6	6	1	7	4
2009	United States	WJC	5th		6	3	6	9	4
2009	United States	WC	4th		9	0	2	2	2
Junior totals					25	14	15	29	20
Senior totals					9	0	2	2	2

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
All-Hockey East Rookie Team	2007–08
All-Hockey East First Team	2008–09
AHCA East First-Team All-American	2008–09
Hockey East All-Tournament Team	2009	[14]
NCAA All-Tournament Team	2009	[15]

References

1. "Boston University: Wilson Named Hockey East Rookie of the Year". NCAA. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
2. "Hobey Hat Trick Turns Up Terrier Pair". goterriers.com. April 2, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
3. "Colin Wilson". goterriers.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
4. "Preds sign 2008 first round pick Wilson". NHL. 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
5. "Nashville's Colin Wilson gets first NHL goal". NHL. 2009-10-21. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
6. Vingan, Adam (July 5, 2015). "Three Predators forwards file for salary arbitration". tennessean.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
7. Clinton, Jared (July 27, 2015). "Colin Wilson Signs Four-Year, $15.75 Million Deal with Predators". thehockeynews.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
8. "Avalanche acquires Colin Wilson from Predators". Colorado Avalanche. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
9. "Avalanche Re-Signs Colin Wilson". Colorado Avalanche. 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
10. Michael Martin (October 29, 2020). "The Things You Can't See". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
11. "COLIN WILSON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AFTER 11 NHL SEASONS". National Hockey League Player's Association. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
12. "2009 Team USA roster". USA Hockey. 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
13. Traikos, Michael (June 8, 2017). "Colin Wilson draws into final for Nashville Predators with chance to bolster family's hockey legacy". National Post. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
14. "2013-14 Hockey East Media Guide". Hockey East. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
15. "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database