Bode Wilde entered the Islanders’ pipeline with real buzz. A second-round pick in 2018, he had once looked like a potential lottery talent before off-ice issues pushed him down the board and into New York’s hands.
The early returns in junior hockey only fueled the optimism. In his first season after being drafted, Wilde put up 70 points - 19 goals and 51 assists - in 60 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL.
But the momentum didn’t last. The 2019-20 season was cut down to just 31 games between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Spirit as nagging injuries lingered. The next year brought another modest step, with Wilde finishing 2020-21 in Bridgeport with three goals and three assists in 22 games.
His Islanders path effectively ended before the 2021-22 season even began. As COVID vaccines were being mandated across the league, Wilde refused the vaccine and posted on Instagram, “Hoping my human rights are enough to let me play ... what a world.” Then-GM Lou Lamoriello made the team’s stance clear: “We will not allow any player in our organization to participate unless they are vaccinated.”
From there, Wilde moved on to Europe. He played for Vasterviks IK in Sweden in 2021-22, then signed with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL for 2022-23. The Islanders did not give him a qualifying offer after that season.
Since then, he has continued to bounce around overseas, with stops in Slovakia, Wales, and Germany. He is slated to play for Schwenninger Wild Wings in the German DEL this season.
For a player who once carried so much promise, the journey has become a long what-if.
In Other News...
Brayden Schenn Suddenly Feels Central To The Islanders Reset
Brayden Schenn is heading into his first full season with the Islanders in a spot that feels bigger than the box score. New York is bringing back a largely unchanged roster as it gets ready for the new season, but the organization has already seen one major change with Anders Lee moving on, leaving a leadership gap that will shape the room and the on-ice identity.
Schenn, acquired at the trade deadline, looks poised to matter more than just as a depth add. His experience and physical two-way game give the Islanders another veteran presence to lean on as they reset around a core that has to absorb the loss of a longtime voice and settle into a new hierarchy. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Front Office Just Sent A Clear Message About Player Development
The Islanders August 3 decision to bring in Evan Gold as assistant general manager was about more than filling a front-office seat. Gold, who comes from the Bruins and Providence Bruins, arrives with a clear background in player development, and his first public remarks pointed toward a more intentional link between the NHL club and its AHL affiliate in Hamilton.
Gold said the goal is to develop players in a competitive environment without losing sight of winning along the way. For an organization trying to keep its pipeline moving, that matters because the day-to-day habits in the minors can shape whether prospects are prepared for the next step or merely surviving it. The message from the front office was pretty plain: development is not going to be treated as an afterthought. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders New Era Is Taking Shape Without Feeling Like A Rebuild
The Islanders are trying to thread a familiar NHL needle: change the look of the roster without drifting into a full-scale teardown. Evan Gold, now an assistant general manager with the club and still running the Hamilton Hammers, framed the group as transitional but not stripped down, pointing to an established veteran core, dependable goaltending and Matthew Schaefer as signs the next version of the team is already taking shape.
Gold also made clear why this was a place he wanted to be part of. Peter DeBoers arrival behind the bench and Golds existing relationship with general manager Mathieu Darche helped sell the opportunity, and together those pieces suggest an organization trying to stay competitive while it builds forward. The balance is tricky, but for now the Islanders seem intent on becoming something new without ever looking like they are starting from scratch. [Read more 🡒]