Colin Wilson, Predators avoid arbitration, agree to 4-year, $15.75 million pact

Colin Wilson and the Nashville Predators have avoided a Tuesday arbitration hearing and agreed to a four-year, $15.75 million extension. The AVV lands at $3.9375 million.

David Poile had an idea in mind for his two restricted free agents in Wilson and Craig Smith. “Four years, something like that, probably makes sense,” he told the Tennessean last month. He able to make that idea a reality in the span of a week.

Smith and the Poile went through with their hearing last week, but settled on a five-year, $21.75 million deal while the arbitrator was making an award decision. Wilson and the Preds didn’t need to travel to Toronto and plead their cases. They found a sweet spot in negotiations.

According to the team, Wilson will make $3.75M this season and $4M annually in the final three seasons of the deal.

Wilson is coming off a career-best season of 20 goals and 42 points, which was definitely a sign he enjoyed playing under Peter Laviolette’s system compared to what Barry Trotz preached.

“This has been a year where Colin has had an opportunity to break out and show what he can do in a regular role on a top-six position and on the power play,” Laviolette said in April. “Usually it’s the power in his game that can really separate him and make him a really strong player on the ice.”

And as On the Forecheck points out, Wilson had solid possession numbers and did his job in helping his linemate’s numbers, including fellow rich guy Craig Smith.

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