How many of them can play ten plus minutes to enable Trotz to roll four lines? He really has shown more than fighting at the NHL level. He's already a pretty great energy player. If he was lost outside of fighting last season I'd agree on taking a step back and goosing him with AHL time but I don't think it's necessary. He's already too good at that minimal role and likely to continue to be unless perhaps the ankle injury hurts him. If that's a factor then, sure, the AHL might be best. Otherwise, I can't see it for a lot of reasons.
The majority of developing prospects aren't the physical freak that Wilson is nor can they play a bottom six forward role while they develop. Simply practicing isn't the difference. Its the cumulative effect of everything he gets in the NHL vs. AHL for this type of player.
Sure they would, particularly the second one. OHL 21 year-olds vs., say, career minor leaguers that have been toughs for years? That's a whole different level of danger potentially. (Not that I'd consider that to ever have been a valid concern either way.) Secondly, and more importantly, AHL D and team defense only provide so much of a learning experience. The bad habits wouldn't be as pronounced in the AHL but they'd still be there and he'd still have an adjustment period in the NHL in terms of physicality and overall pace. Sure, maybe he'd re-enter the NHL with more confidence in his skill level but without necessarily having the mental component in timing it's still a work in progress. Power forwards take time and they need to learn on the job to really become the sort of force they need to be.
I don't think the difference between ten minutes in the NHL and 14/15 is so significant that a completely different developmental plan becomes justified. I don't think 18 minutes in the AHL including PP time necessarily makes him a power forward any quicker. TOI ought to be earned across the board under Trotz so the opportunity for Wilson to play more will be there. If not, I'm more confident that this coaching staff will both make it clear what he needs to do and work with him to make those strides.