Photo Credit: Philadelphia Flyers
“I always knew Philly was in consideration. I play their type of hockey. Big body. The Broad Street Bullies as they’re known. Big body, kind of gritty hockey. They’re always there for me in my mind. I was like maybe these guys. It was never strong or anything like that. I had no clue who I was going to in the draft. No clue who I was going to coming into this. Super excited to hear my name by the Broad Street Bullies for sure.” Zayde Wisdom said the Flyers drafted him on draft day in 2020.
The Flyers made a trade to get into the Third Round of the 2020 NHL Draft after trading away their third round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks. With the pick the Flyers selected a physical goal-scorer in Zayde Wisdom, who compiled 29 goals, and 30 assists for 59 points in 2019-20 for the Kingston Frontenacs. It appears Wisdom has been a Philadelphian for a while one would think:
“It was fun,” Wisdom said of developmental camp. “It was a fun week. I think the dev guys did a great job coordinating this one this year. They had us downtown. They had us around the rink. They had us everywhere. I think the younger guys enjoyed it as well Now I’ll focus on main camp.”
A sturdy winger in Wisdom continued, “Yes, actually a funny story. Sammy took me down there a few times after games when I was injured. He showed me a good time downtown. The scavenger hunt was definitely way more educational. I have had a chance to be around town, and so far, I love the city.”
The Flyers drafted this powerful sturdy Winger with the hopes he could use his goal-scoring abilities, combined with a physical element to deliver a one-two punch to opponents in the future. Wisdom has quite a journey to get where he is today with his hockey career and Scott Wheeler of the Athletic did an amazing write up on the challenges he endured when he was younger.
In Wheeler’s piece it states he was raised by his mother and grandmother after the departure of his father, he wasn’t able to afford the type of equipment his teammates had so he was forced to fit in somehow, and food was scarce. They simply did not have enough money for food, I mean if this doesn’t make you root for the young 18-year-old I don’t know what will.
Wayne Simmonds is Wisdom’s biggest advocate as Wisdom says:
“Having a guy like that who’s played in the league for that long and who’s still playing in the league is amazing. He’s obviously a veteran guy, a grizzled guy. He’s been through some stuff. He’s been through most of the stuff that the league has to offer. Having a guy like that in your corner where he’s giving you advice and letting you know what your best decision would be and advising you helps a ton.” – Zayde Wisdom said after being drafted by the Flyers
This young man in Wisdom has persevered, and has become quite the hockey player. He is an energy player, a bit undersized as he stands at 5’11, and weighs 195 pounds. However, he makes up for his size with being a good skater. Wisdom can improve with his acceleration, and that will come in time, as he netted seven goals and 11 assists in 28 games played for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2020-21. Wisdom would have played for the Phantoms this past season, but he missed half of it with a shoulder injury. Low and behold, when he was fully healthy he was sent to his Junior Club the Kingston Frontenac for a conditioning stint. There he netted nine goals and 29 assists in 43 games played.
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Wisdom is a good forechecker, gets to the dirty areas to pot a goal, grinds for pucks in the corners thus forcing his opponents into mistakes. He can lead the rush, has a nice quick release that is accurate. Most of all folks he can score goals, and he’s not afraid to take a beating to do just that, “Well, this summer has been a big focus on conditioning,” Wisdom said. “Just coming off the injury, it’s been tough getting back into game shape there. Finishing off the season and going right into summer. Kind of taking a chill pill and sitting back for a bit. It was just getting back ready because obviously we got John Tortorella coming here. It’s going to be a tough training camp coming up. Just being ready, ready for the physical and mental part of the game.”
Defensively, Wisdom plays a smart two-way game. He’s an excellent Penalty Killer, and Wisdom is very good at poke checking. Wisdom gets into the passing lanes, and clears the porch like Wayne Simmonds used to do in Philly. Let’s hope Wisdom stays healthy, and is able to produce this season like Flyers fans know he can do at the professional level.
“The boys are just talking about being prepared,” Wisdom said. “Yeah, it’s going to suck for the week or two that we’re going through it, but it’s all worth it in the end. If that’s what it takes to be a winning team, then I’m sure all the boys are behind it.”
I wish Zayde and all the young stock the best. I like hearing that Tortorella is already in their heads, already getting them working harder, expecting more, and he hasn’t even started with them yet. I keep thinking about hearing Scotty Hartnell say that after working with Tortorella later in his career he wished he had been his coach when he was 19 years old and just getting started. I am hoping this coach is able to develop some of these young players in a way that does not fall into the mode of our recent tradition which has left so much potential on the cutting room floor. Hoping for the best.