Wilde about Saginaw: Isles pick Bode Wilde signs with OHL Spirit

Funny how things work out. This weekend, we posted a Top 25 Under 25 article at this very site entitled, “Where in the world is Bode Wilde?,” a reference to an Islanders prospect who had yet to choose his destination team for the season.

Proving once again Lighthouse Hockey’s mutant ability to affect future outcomes, the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit announced today that the aforementioned Mr. Wilde has signed a contract with the junior club.

As expertly summarized by Jenny in this weekend’s post, the 6-foot-4 defenseman de-committed from the University of Michigan and hadn’t yet committed to play for the Spirit, who held his player rights. Sounds like the club had good things to say, and swayed him to play elsewhere in the Wolverine State:

From the Spirit’s release:

“I am super excited to be playing in the OHL, especially for the Saginaw Spirit, said Wilde. “After meeting [GM] Dave [Drinkill], the ownership group, and the coaching staff, I think it was an easy decision. The city of Saginaw, the OHL schedule, and everything that goes into being a member of the Spirit is going to be very good for me these next few years.”

Drinkill says Wilde can be a “a top defenseman” in the OHL, which is also what our voters think he can be in the NHL (in due time). He came in ninth in our Top 25 Under 25 list, with voters praising his skating, size, scoring and playmaking abilities. De-committing from the NCAA may have helped him drop into the Islanders’ laps in the second round of this year’s Entry Draft, where they nabbed him at 41st overall.

Last season, Wilde played for the United States National Under-18 team and finished with 42 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 61 games.

At 18 (he won’t be 19 until January), Wilde isn’t eligible for the AHL, unless and until Saginaw’s season ends. Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon had two cups of coffee in the A with the Sound Tigers after his junior team’s playoff elimination. Last season he was finally a regular.

But that’s for another time. This news ties a bow around a tiny bit of offseason drama. Please return to your previously scheduled last gasp of summer activities.