With Noah Dobson graduating from prospect status to regular NHL defenseman, the Islanders will look to their defense pool to find their next young superstar. Eyes are now turning to Bode Wilde as the likely top prospect defenseman in the Islanders’ prospect pool. Veteran Andy Greene is nearing retirement, so the Islanders might be looking to replace him next year with a player like Wilde. Although the 2020-2021 NHL season has just begun, the following season is just nine months away. The league hopes to begin play in the new season in October 2021 and have a full 82 game season. Because of the defensive needs, Wilde can begin his rookie season for the Islanders with a good training camp this summer.

Wilde’s Childhood

Bode Wilde was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In one of the world’s hockey hubs, his father stuck him on the ice at a young age. Growing up in Montreal, it was an easy decision for Wilde to root for the Canadiens as a kid. With coaches asking for Wilde to join their team at such a young age, the 12-year-old finally chose his junior club, the Detroit-based Belle Tire PeeWee Major AAA team. He decided to move to Michigan and stay with a billet family. A year later, Wilde joined the Triple-A HoneyBaked Hockey Club’s U-13 team. At 15, Wilde was on the move again, going to play for the Chicago Mission, and just one year after, he was on his way back to Michigan to play for the US National U17 Team.

Playing Professionally

Wilde, who has never particularly known as an “offensive defenseman” still managed to score up until this point, but joining the US National Team was going to be his biggest challenge yet. Wilde became teammates with Oliver Wahlstrom, as the two would later be in the same Islanders draft class.  His defense excelled in his first year, but he only scored three goals and three assists in the teams’ USHL contests. He also netted eight goals and eleven assists in 59 games for Team USA’s U17 team in their Developmental Program.

In 2017, Wilde entered his draft year, with hopes of being a first-round draft pick. He has moved around a ton in his childhood, and dedicated so much to hockey. Luckily, Wilde’s physical game as well as his ability to get on the score sheet visibly increased. He tallied three goals and 13 assists across 25 USHL games and 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points over 61 games in the Developmental Program. With his phenomenal and productive season, most mock drafts had Bode Wilde going in the late first round.

Getting Drafted

Bode Wilde and his family waited patiently at the 2018 NHL Draft, hoping his name was called on the first day. However, with teams liking to try to find diamonds in the rough and draft players not viewed as first-rounders, plenty of players actually predicted as first-rounders get passed on. So, Wilde, unfortunately, did not get drafted in the first round. Falling into the second, he finally got drafted by the New York Islanders, 41st overall. Although disappointed to be a second-rounder, Wilde was excited to join the Islanders.

Bode Wilde’s Career Takes an Interesting Turn

Most players who have played on both of the USA’s U17 and U18 teams get drafted at age 18 and go to college. Wilde decided not to attend college and went to the Ontario Hockey League. Wilde was drafted into the OHL in 2016; however, not all OHL draftees end up playing there, especially Americans. NCAA hockey has grown significantly in terms of producing future NHL talent, but Wilde had a good reason to play in the OHL. Only three of the OHL’s 20 teams play in the United States, and by a stroke of luck, one of those three had Wilde’s playing rights. That team was the Saginaw Spirit, who play their home games in Michigan, just about 70 miles from Birmingham, Michigan. Wilde figured joining the world’s most successful junior league while staying close to home could be his best option.

Playing in the OHL let Wilde’s two-way abilities shine. In his first year with the Spirit in 2018-2019, Wilde scored 19 goals and 51 assists for 70 points in 62 games. That put him third of all OHL defenseman in points, and second on the Saginaw Spirit. Wilde solely trailed Winnipeg Jets top-ten draft pick, Cole Perfetti, on his team. Wilde was also third in points and assists for defensemen, tied for first in power-play goals, and led all blueliners in game-winning goals. In his second year, his hot start of 11 points in 11 games earned him his first professional contract. Unfortunately, Wilde netted only two assists in his twenty games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders’ AHL affiliate after his season started late due to an injury he suffered toward the start of training camp. Wilde plans to play with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2021, and with a good season, he can punch his ticket to finally reaching the NHL.

Potential and Comparison

Although Wilde’s potential really depends on his AHL performance in Bridgeport this season, his likely ceiling is a top-four defenseman. Wilde is almost a guarantee to at least be an everyday NHLer. Two-way defensemen generally adjust to NHL play very well, so that is a good sign for Wilde.

My current player comparison for Bode Wilde is Minnesota Wild defenseman, Jonas Brodin. Like Wilde, Brodin is aggressive in the defensive zone but can move the puck, breakout, and can rack up points in the right system. Wilde is currently listed as 6’2″ and 194 lbs, a similar size to Brodin. He turned 21 yesterday, though, so he can put on more weight before reaching his final form, which would help his hitting and shot-blocking abilities.

Ben Kule

Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others