INSIDE HOCKEY

The season on the ice may be over but that doesn’t mean that the Nashville Predators have not had a busy week. The Preds have had a couple of interesting signings and at least eight members of the Predators organization are headed to the World Championships next week in Switzerland.

On Friday, the Predators signed Colin Wilson, their first round draft pick from 2008, to a three year entry level contract. Wilson was runner up to teammate Matt Gilroy for the Hobey Baker Award (for best NCAA college player) and led his Boston University team to the national championship last weekend.

Wilson, 19, was recently named first team All-American and was second in the nation in points and assists during the just completed season. It is unclear when Wilson will be ready to play on the NHL level. When asked, Preds GM David Poile indicated that Wilson could be in Nashville as a "top two center in the not too distant future."

Colin Wilson was the only non-NHL player selected to play for Team USA in the World Championships. I suspect that having him added to the team was a really crafty under the radar move by David Poile who is an Assistant GM for Team USA. The Preds should get an idea of how close Wilson is for NHL level play by watching him [lay against the world’s best players in the tournament.

After the firing of Minnesota GM Doug Risebrough on Thursday, many speculated that former Pred owner Craig Leipold would approach the Predators for permission to interview GM David Poile for the open position. After an unsettling 24 hours for Pred fans, the Predators awarded Poile a one-year extension on his current contract. Poile indicated that he “was very happy where he was” and that he has “unfinished work to complete.”

Since the Predators missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003, the opportunity was opened for players and management from the organization to participate in the World Championships, which begins next weekend in Switzerland.

Team USA will be represented by Pred defenseman Ryan Suter in addition to Colin Wilson. Suter’s family has a long history of international competition, as his father, Bob Suter, was a member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Team. David Poile is also an Assistant GM for the USA.

Team Canada will have Pred’s coach Barry Trotz as an assistant coach. Predator’s Defensemen Shea Weber and Dan Hamhuis will anchor Canada’s blue line.

Finland chose Predator’s rookie goalie sensation Pekka Rinne and defenseman Ville Koistinen, who is not likely to return to the Preds next season. Rookie forward Antti Pihlstrom may also be added to the Finnish team if he is physically able to compete.

Others in the Predator organization would probably be invited to compete but are either injured or still competing for Milwaukee, who is a favorite for the AHL championship.