Michigan hockey gets a huge commitment
Bode Wilde is No. 10 on TSN pre-season 2018 NHL draft rankings. Was committed to Harvard, now Michigan: https://t.co/cu30i9Zwpu
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) September 14, 2017
5 star prospect Bode Wilde commits to @umichhockey. Our #2 ranked 2000-born defenseman in the US. Pro style; elite size/skill/skating combo https://t.co/K5w8yu2q48
— Neutral Zone (@_Neutral_Zone) September 13, 2017
NTDP '00 D Bode Wilde has committed to Michigan. Former Harvard commit; potential first round draft pick in 2018 NHL Draft.
— Chris Dilks (@ChrisDilks) September 13, 2017
Bode Wilde joins fellow 5 stars in #1 ranked '00 defenseman in US Mattias Samuelsson & #1 ranked OHL Draft D '01 Mike Vukojevic at Michigan.
— Neutral Zone (@_Neutral_Zone) September 13, 2017
September 14th, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
This bodes well for Mel Pearson and the Wolverines. There's even a wild chance that this will be the foundation of a championship class.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
I apologize for the levity - teeing off the comments with silliness. This really is a terrific get for Michigan and one that speaks well of Mel Pearson et. all. I should have been more serious.
I can only hope that Mr. Wilde better understands the importance of being earnest.
September 14th, 2017 at 11:08 AM ^
+1 for the literary reference.
And from what I understand, he can resist everything but temptation.
September 14th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
I'm just glad that Harvard wasn't willing to change their wallpaper.
September 14th, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^
Amusing AND first.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
The Mel Factor.
September 14th, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^
I don't follow hockey as much, but isn't it getting pretty close to a one-and-done thing when we pick up these obvious number 1 draft picks? I prefer it when you can see a team really come together over the course of a few years.
September 14th, 2017 at 3:04 PM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
True, but we all thought that about Jack Johnson and he stayed for two. Even one and dones can be a benefit to the program.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
Awesome. There's a lot of talent on this team (and apparently future teams); I expect Michigan to be competitive very soon, if not immediately.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^
Thank God for Mel Pearson. Now let's just hope Wilde stays away from the OHL
September 14th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^
Saginaw isn't competitive right now, and I'm guessing if he went through the trouble of decommitting from Harvard to Michigan the OHL isn't a serious option at the moment.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:57 AM ^
No I agree. The article you cited, though, seemed to indicate the OHL is still a possibility. Since I have absolutely no connections in the college hockey world I figured I'd trust their opinion haha
September 14th, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 10:00 AM ^
How hard is it to decommit from one school to another in hockey? I'm much more familiar with the process in football and basketball, where - so long as you've not signed a letter of intent - it's really easy to change horses.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^
Literally exactly the same, except that hockey has long had (along with basically every other sport besides football) an early period. Players enrolling for the 2018-19 season have a signing period for a week in November of this year, and then again starting April of next year.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:52 AM ^
But if it is anything like football and basketball, I would assume it only involves changing your Twitter bio
September 14th, 2017 at 11:20 AM ^
Would never count out the OHL for any of these kids. John Gibson did the same thing... USNDTP committed to OSU, switched to Michigan then opted for the OHL.
September 14th, 2017 at 11:28 AM ^
That's a fair point. I think it helps Wilde is from Michigan whereas Gibson was from Pennsylvania.
September 14th, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^
If Wilde really is a 2018 first-rounder in the NHL draft, why would he care all that much about any OHL team's current situation? Wouldn't he figure that any stay in the OHL would be very brief before getting called up?
September 14th, 2017 at 3:16 PM ^
Playing for a good team means you play with better players, which is more fun and makes you look better. It also allows you to make deep playoff runs, which is a lot more fun.
And, typically, good teams have some fringe benefits attached to them (Free Slovin!) that make joining them more attractive. And you get to join them earlier than you can join a college team (Pat Kane took advantage of this).
Given that he's flipping a commitment right now, I would guess that he doesn't have plans to jump to the OHL this year. But that could change. If Saginaw trades his rights, that's panic time.
September 14th, 2017 at 4:26 PM ^
Makes sense for this year, but given the record of our most talented players over the past 15+ years I'll be pleasantly surprised if he plays past his frosh season at Michigan and shocked if he goes past his soph year. Getting three seasons would be huge.
September 15th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^
He can't get "called up" from the OHL.
He can get drafted out of the OHL, just like he can get drafted from Michigan. Think of it as Canadian college if that helps. He'll either play NCAA or Canadian Juniors.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:41 AM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^
Looks like Marcus Washington ('19).
September 14th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^
Our last receiver from St. Louis seemed to work out pretty well for us.
September 14th, 2017 at 1:07 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^
It's not the same guy, he's a 5'11 cornerback from LA.
September 14th, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^
Whereas our guy is the 5'11" linebacker from fLA
September 14th, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 10:52 AM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 10:56 AM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 12:45 PM ^
Old time hockey--just like Eddie Shore!
September 14th, 2017 at 9:52 AM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
Josh Norris, Quin Hughes, and Bode Wilde are all 5 star studs. And Hughes' little brother is better than all of them. He's currently uncommitted but the thought is that he will eventually wind up at Michigan like his older brother. However the OHL is a serious option for him and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he went that route. Their dad was the director of player personnel for the Maple Leafs. He's getting compared to Conor McDavid (wowza).
https://thebloggerstribune.com/2017/03/20/hockey-jack-hughes-draft-report/
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/03/17/introducing-jack-hughes-the-supremely-talented-stoic-next-one
September 14th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^
Your favorite team is the same as Jim McElwain's.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 9:54 AM ^
This is awesome. I'll be honest, I only follow hockey during the season, and even then only a little. I don't follow hockey recruiting at all, but even I know this is a huge deal for Pearson to start off on the recruiting trail like this. Great get.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:57 AM ^
Hockey recruiting is hard to follow because it's not well covered and commitments usually happen very early compared to football.
September 14th, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^
For as long as I've been a fan and follower of College Hockey recruiting, I will never understand how players classify either. Player X can enroll this year as a freshman or in 13 seasons as a freshman.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:59 AM ^
Great decision Bode! Super hyped!
September 14th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
Because everyone loves statistics (http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=283932)
Ranked #10 by hockeyprospect.com (http://www.eliteprospects.com/draftcenter.php?year=2018&layout=&ranking=Rank5)
Ranked #7 by Futureconsiderations (http://www.eliteprospects.com/draftcenter.php?year=2018&layout=&ranking=Rank4) (of note: Quinn Hughes is #9)
Video Feature:
September 14th, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
Looking at the hockeyprospect dot com list, 7 of the projected top 20 in the 2018 draft are headed to college, and 3 of those 7 are heeaded to Michigan: #8 Mattias Samuelsson, #10 Bode Wilde, and #20 Quinton Hughes.
All 3 are defensemen, too. I know better than to expect all 3 to show up and stay, but you certainly have to appreciate the way Mel Pearson is hitting the recruiting trail.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:31 AM ^
And Josh Norris was a 1st round pick of San Jose this year. By this time next year Michigan's top 4 defensemen could all be 1st round NHL draft picks. Insane.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
Mel is going to change things, and do so in a real hurry. Good on him for leaving the "Michigan of the East" for the real deal. Go Blue!
September 14th, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^