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2018 Draft Prospect Profile: Bode Wilde

Bode Wilde
Position: Defenseman
Team: US National Team Development Program
Date of Birth: January 24, 2000
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 196 pounds
Shoots: Left

First off, the name: Bode Wilde. That’s a great winter sports name (he was named after Bode Miller, after all), and one the young Canadian-American can expect to be called midway through the first round. A dual citizen, Wilde eschewed major junior hockey (as a Saginaw Spirit draft pick) and opted for the US National Team Development Program route. Wilde racked up 41 points (12 goals and 29 assists) in 61 games last year, with 16 points in 25 games for the USNTDP Juniors.

Wilde is a confident, aggressive defenseman with a hard shot. He plays a heady game and can push opponents off the puck with his strong frame. He quarterbacked the power play with his righthanded shot but may have to tone down the risk-taking as he moves up the ranks. The days of stay-at-home defensemen in the NHL are gone, and Wilde fits the new profile of a two-way blueliner.

Wilde will head to the University of Michigan next season, a school the Blue Jackets have a passing familiarity with when it comes to American defensemen. He may be around at 18, and another defenseman who can join the rush may be a welcome addition to the franchise.

Quotes

Wilde is a big, two-way difference–maker on the back-end…a big kid that is also a real solid skater…transitions smoothly…passes the puck with authority and accuracy…has a booming slap shot from the point that he can unleash in a hurry…he can be a real catalyst on the power play…shows nice leadership skills…calm puck handling, rarely displaying panic under pressure…generates time and space by using body positioning…uses his big frame to step into opponents and shut them down physically…closes the gap, seals off along the boards and eliminates time and space – Aaron Vickers, Future Considerations

Big, thick defensemen that look graceful while carrying the puck simply don’t grow on trees, and you’d probably hear more about him if his draft year wasn’t loaded with cornerstone-type defenders. Wilde is one confident teenager, maybe sometimes to a fault, as doing “too much” with the puck is something he’ll have to limit. Especially considering how talented the NTDP forwards are. Still, he is perfectly capable of playing a variety of roles with aplomb — power play quarterback, crease-clearer on the penalty kill, and even neutralizing top opponents. Wilde loves to hammer the disc thanks to a heavy shot, and he has the ability to either create his own shot from up high or finish in a speed rush to the net. Once he crosses center, he is as close to the complete package as they come, and his size and right-handed shot make him an extremely tantalizing prospect with star potential. Wilde’s risk taking can put his mates in jeopardy, so you’d like to see him go through stretches when he puts a premium on sound positioning, and is willing to refrain from deep attacks every single shift. – Steve Kournianos, The Draft Analyst

Bode Wilde is a talented and competitive defender that plays a tenacious 200-foot game. His balance and acceleration in-stride is noteworthy and he is never caught in no-man’s land, or doing nothing. He is proactive and hard-nosed in pursuit if puck control, and he reads queues in all three zones naturally and quickly. Defensively, he is a beast and always looks to take time and space away from the opposition. He erases the open lane, keeps opponents to the outside, and is physical along the wall. In-transition, he is able to make that outlet pass or, more than likely, take it up himself to set up the trap. Offensively, he showcases a very hard, accurate shot that leaps off his stick. He can also open up space by way of his skating ability, size, and handling of the puck. Thanks to his quick thinking in making the high-percentage decision, he can be very difficult to read and play against. All-in-all, Wilde is a smart, competitive, and sizey two-way D-man that can provide a team with numbers on the board and stability on the ice. – Elite Prospects

2017-18 Stats

61GP / 12G / 29A / 41PTS / 65PIM

Highlights