Bode Wilde

July 2023 – Wilde was not made a qualifying offer and has become a UFA. Peter Harling

February 2023 – Wilde is an interesting case. The foundations of the former 41st overall pick remain, but he has seemingly fallen out of favor with the Islanders as he has spent this entire season in the ECHL. He hasn’t played particularly well there either with just eleven points in forty games. He is fifth on his team in scoring among defensemen and sixth in points per game while getting no time on the powerplay. As a large defenseman who can skate reasonably well, there is reason to believe he still has value to some NHL general managers. So far, however, he seems to be progressing in the wrong direction since being drafted. Graham Montgomery

June 2022 – Wilde still has good size, great skating, fierce competitiveness, a good shot and an offensive mindset. However, his resistance to vaccination earned him banishment last season to the Swedish second-tier league. After a modest 10-point, 40-game performance on loan to Västerviks IK, he added three points in seven post-season outings. He bears watching in the final year of his ELC, but who knows where he’ll play. Mark Allan

March 2022 – Blessed with size, terrific skating and a good shot yet cursed with defensive deficiencies and inconsistency, the former second-round pick is marinating in Sweden’s second-tier league. Adding to the six points he posted last season in 22 outings with Bridgeport of the AHL, Wilde’s got one goal and eight assists in 37 Allsvenskan games with Västerviks IK. His stats aren’t what you’d expect from such a gifted offensive player, but suppressing your instincts to improve your defensive play is no easy task. Mark Allan

September 2021 – As the lone unvaccinated player in the organization, Wilde has been loaned to Vasterviks IK of the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s AHL equivalent. The Isles banned the 24-year-old from training camp for the same reason. A skilled offensive blueliner, Wilde tallied three goals and as many assists in 22 outings last season for AHL Bridgeport. Mark Allan

July 2021 – Registering slight statistical improvement over his rookie AHL schedule, the 21-year-old had three scores and as many helpers in 22 appearances with Bridgeport. He’s got size, skill and an apparent learning curve with the baby Islanders ahead of him. We, and the Isles, will know more by the time his entry-level contract expires in two years. Mark Allan

April 2021 – Known as an offensive blueliner, Wilde has only two assists and eight shots on goal in 11 AHL outings with Bridgeport. He will need time to improve his overall game. He has two more campaigns on his entry-level deal to do so. Mark Allan

March 2020 – After the Isles returned Wilde to junior to free a roster spot, the skilled young blueliner posted four goals and 11 points in as many games for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. The move was perhaps also recognition that he was in over his head in the AHL (two assists in 20 outings). Whenever hockey resumes, the 20-year-old will be back with Bridgeport. With good size and abundant talent, Wilde needs time to improve his decision-making before he gets a sniff of the big time. Mark Allan

February 2020 – “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars,” wrote Oscar Wilde. The stars Bode Wilde wants to join are not in the heavens, but in the NHL. He took an unusual step backward recently when the Islanders sent him from the AHL to junior. An ankle injury before Bridgeport’s season opener helped to limit the offense-minded blueliner to two assists in 20 AHL appearances. He’s since got a goal and two assists in six appearances with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, where he should get lots of ice time and renewed confidence as a 20-year-old overager. Wilde has size, speed, physicality, a nose for the net and curious decision-making. He’s a Wilde card. Mark Allan

September 2018 – The New York Islander’s landed Bode Wilde in the second round of the 2018 draft. Many pundits pegged Wilde to be selected in the first round, his stock fell considerably due to concerns of his being a defensive liability. With an exceptional offensive game you can also expect him to be more valued in multi-cat leagues which count hits and blocks; as he is a punishing player with deceptive vision. Wilde will start this campaign in the OHL and should continue honing his two-way game. Jesse Sherman