Zayde Wisdom signs entry-level deal with Flyers

The move comes not even a week after the Flyers drafted Zayde Wisdom in the fourth round.

Get taken in the NHL Draft and signed to a contract not even a week later. That is the reality for the Flyers fourth-round draft selection in Zayde Wisdom. He and the team have agreed to a three-year entry-level contract.

The Flyers traded up to the 94th pick by giving away both the 116th and 147th selections in order to take Wisdom. The team was somewhat surprised that he was available as late as he was, so they were determined to go and get him.

He is the first member of the Flyers 2020 Draft Class to agree to terms on an entry-level contract. This doesn’t mean that Wisdom is ready to jump into the league just yet. He will need more time in juniors to develop.

The contract will slide depending on how much longer he plays juniors. He took a large leap forward in his development with the Kingston Frontenacs. Wisdom ranked second on the team in all offensive statistics with 29 goals, 30 assists and 59 points. That was a major step up in production from his rookie season.

At just 17-years-old at the time, Wisdom was a huge part of Frontenacs team that had clinched a playoff spot before the season was cancelled. A young team, Wisdom should continue to have a large role on the team moving forward. And playing with potential phenom Shane Wright won’t hurt him either.

The recipient of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, Wisdom already has ties to the NHL in the form of Wayne Simmonds. The newly signed Leafs forward has been a mentor of the young forwards since he began attending his annual Ball Hockey tournaments.

That’s not a bad player to have helping you along the way. The Flyers are certainly exciting to see how Wisdom develops from here. That’s evidenced by the trade up to select him and making him their first signee of the latest draft class.