The SB Nation 2018 NHL Mock Draft is underway. After Defending Big D selected Joel Farabee for the Stars (after a trade with Broad Street Hockey) with the 14th pick, Litter Box Cats is up next.
1. Buffalo – Rasums Dahlin
2. Carolina – Andrei Svechnikov
3. Montreal – Filip Zadina
4. Ottawa – Quinn Hughes
5. Arizona – Brady Tkachuk
6. Detroit – Adam Boqvist
7. Vancouver – Noah Dobson
8. Chicago – Oliver Wahlstrom
9. NY Rangers – Evan Bouchard
10. Edmonton – Martin Kaut
11. Washington (via Islanders) – Jesperi Kotkaniemi
12. NY Islanders – Ty Smith
13. Colorado (via Philly, via Dallas) – Joe Veleno
14. Dallas (via Philadelphia) – Joel Farabee
With the fifteenth pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Litter Box Cats, on behalf of the Florida Panthers, select defenseman from the U.S. National Team Development Program, Bode Wilde.
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 2018]
In 2017-18 with the USNTDP U-18 team, Wilde scored 12 goals, added 29 assists and racked up 65 PIM in 61 games. In an additional 25 games for the USNTDP junior team, he produced 16 points (3G/13A) and finished with a +19 rating.
Wilde was also member of the U.S. team that won bronze at the 2018 World Junior Championship in Buffalo. In seven tournament games against the best in world, Wilde didn’t produce any points, but the experience will only benefit him in the future.
Wilde, who is slated to play at the University of Michigan this season, is the total package. With all the Panthers best defensive prospect already playing on the big-league club, adding Wilde to the organization would be a smart move if he is available in real life.
Broad Street Hockey has the next pick…
Are you happy with LBC’s mock pick?
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| No | 26 |