Bass' Interview Transcript: Coach Barry Trotz and Preds Prospect Colin Wilson

By Alan Bass

Alan: Why keep Colin Wilson on the roster?

Barry Trotz: He has great instincts offensively, he won all the puck battles. Whenever there was a loose puck battle, he always won it. He’s really competitive. He wins battles and he can make something happen out of those battles. He has a big body and we’re really happy with him right now. I saw him at the National Championship and at the World Championships for Team USA and I was very impressed with him.

Alan: Where do you see him fitting in, when he returns from his injury?

Trotz: What I would do is put him with at least one real, responsible veteran and maybe one second-year guy like Patric Hornqvist. You know, put him with one guy who has a little bit of experience and with a guy who has a lot of experience.

Alan: What are the strong points of his game?

Trotz: His strong point is that he has great instincts for the game. He is a big, powerful man so he can separate people and win battles in the corners. He has to improve his quickness. He is such a great thinker that I don’t think it will be a problem, but that’s the only weakness I see.

Alan: Do you see him as a future franchise player?

Trotz: I think he may be [a cornerstone of the franchise]. I don’t know how dynamic he will be offensively, but I know that he is going to have a real long career, because he’s sort of a Rod Brind’Amour type. He’s really strong. He’ll put up good numbers. I don’t know if he’ll put up great numbers, but if you put him with an Ovechkin, he’ll put up great numbers. However, I think he will be extremely productive. You can win with a Colin Wilson-type player on a regular basis.

Alan: What are the strongest parts of your game?

Colin Wilson: I think my competitiveness and my work ethic are the best parts of my game. I think quickness is something that would help me out. I think my speed is all right, but those first couple steps are what I need to work on. In addition to other things, like the defensive zone.

Alan: What was playing for Boston University like last year?

Wilson: You’re on a team that generally wins. When you’re on a team with players who generally win, it lets you know what it takes for you to win - what is put into it.

Alan: What did Coach Jack Parker teach you the last two years?

Wilson: Coach Parker taught me to just battle through adversity. There are many things that come up. Sometimes you’re not playing well. Sometimes you have an injury. And he just taught me how to deal with it and how to develop my all-around game.

Alan: Does having a dad who played in the NHL help you with the pressures of pro hockey?

Wilson: I think with training camp, having a dad who played helped, you know. Especially with my groin injury now, he talks to me about it. He’s had it before and he tells me just to not worry about it, work hard, and get back to full health.

Alan: What will it take to make the game roster every night?

Wilson: You just have to keep working hard and be smart at the same time. You just have to bear down and do what it takes to make it to the game roster.