Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils 2019-20 player profile: Miles Wood

I hope you are right Todd, because having wood around not doing anything is just wrong.

Agreed, if you have Wood, you need to put it to use. When Wood is at its best, its really helping with the depth. If he plays soft, he is of no use to anyone.

Agreed, if you have Wood, you need to put it to use. When Wood is at its best, its really helping with the depth. If he plays soft, he is of no use to anyone.
- WayneZ

And if Wood isn't at his best you always have Blackwood to back him up.

At 2.75M, Miles isn't a bad contract for what he brings. Yes the numbers were down, but it was a rough year all around.

Hopefully things go better this year with everyone healthy and more talent on the team. If he plays down on the third or fourth line with some decent line mates I'd expect him to bounce back significantly.

I think he's a legit 20 goal scorer.

And if Wood isn't at his best you always have Blackwood to back him up.
- devilspep

Agreed, if you have Wood, you need to put it to use. When Wood is at its best, its really helping with the depth. If he plays soft, he is of no use to anyone.
- WayneZ

Yeah, your wood cannot be soft if you want to put it to use.

I still remember an interview he did before this past season talking about his Summer 2018 offseason training. He said he played a lot of roller and deck hockey so he could work on his hands. He told the interviewer, because of this extra work, he expected to have between 25-30 goals last season.

Ummm, no!

I still remember an interview he did before this past season talking about his Summer 2018 offseason training. He said he played a lot of roller and deck hockey so he could work on his hands. He told the interviewer, because of this extra work, he expected to have between 25-30 goals last season.

Ummm, no!
- Crushers68

Obviously he didn't make it but be glad he's putting the work in and trying to improve.
He's only 23. (about to turn 24). He should improve a little, but he still brings a lot of good attributes; and things the Devil's are short on.

such as speed and.. size? is that an attribute? are the Devils "short" on size? lol

I'm starting to question if our 3rd and 4th lines will be above average, as some think. I think we're so used to half the team being from the minors that actual NHL forwards makes the lines good. I think they may just be average at best.

say any combo of last year's version of Simmonds (we have no proof of improvement yet), an aging *defensive* Zajac, a grinder in Coleman, or a Zacha that hasn't put together offense at the NHL level.

Does that group scream "above average" 3rd line to you?

And now the 4th line cluster. Hopes and dreams with unproven Boqvist, unproven McLeod who struggled to stay on his skates, Wood.. who is fast and ..is fast..but lacks scoring touch or NHL smarts. Rooney, who is forgettable. And then Hayden.. who was bad enough for a team to trade for an equally lacking Q. So the 4th line is a prayer.

But we're all optimistic on these bottom 6 players. Maybe we should be. But they have just as great odds of being a flop than being above average.

It all rides on Hischer and Hughes. Hall will likely miss 20+ games. Gusev will be adjusting to the NHL, and Hughes/Hischier can play a big part in that adjustment. Bratt too is a wildcard.

such as speed and.. size? is that an attribute? are the Devils "short" on size? lol

I'm starting to question if our 3rd and 4th lines will be above average, as some think. I think we're so used to half the team being from the minors that actual NHL forwards makes the lines good. I think they may just be average at best.

say any combo of last year's version of Simmonds (we have no proof of improvement yet), an aging *defensive* Zajac, a grinder in Coleman, or a Zacha that hasn't put together offense at the NHL level.

Does that group scream "above average" 3rd line to you?

And now the 4th line cluster. Hopes and dreams with unproven Boqvist, unproven McLeod who struggled to stay on his skates, Wood.. who is fast and ..is fast..but lacks scoring touch or NHL smarts. Rooney, who is forgettable. And then Hayden.. who was bad enough for a team to trade for an equally lacking Q. So the 4th line is a prayer.

But we're all optimistic on these bottom 6 players. Maybe we should be. But they have just as great odds of being a flop than being above average.

It all rides on Hischer and Hughes. Hall will likely miss 20+ games. Gusev will be adjusting to the NHL, and Hughes/Hischier can play a big part in that adjustment. Bratt too is a wildcard.
- MartysBetter88

The attributes I was referring to was driving for the net and chasing down pucks. Playing with some grit and bringing it. Not so much the size but not playing soft.

I think the line combos are still very much in the air but Wood is likely to play with:

Zacha or Zajac as his center and probably Simmonds or Coleman as his RW.

Any combo of that is probably a very good 3rd/4th line.

Hyden and Rooney are unlikely but Bastian and McLeod could work their way in. No idea what happens with Boqvist since they landed Gusev.

The attributes I was referring to was driving for the net and chasing down pucks. Playing with some grit and bringing it. Not so much the size but not playing soft.

I think the line combos are still very much in the air but Wood is likely to play with:

Zacha or Zajac as his center and probably Simmonds or Coleman as his RW.

Any combo of that is probably a very good 3rd/4th line.

Hyden and Rooney are unlikely but Bastian and McLeod could work their way in. No idea what happens with Boqvist since they landed Gusev.
- Queenie_5_hole

If our PK is really good, we should get an aggressive/fighting guy who will intimidate the other team thus playing our PK line more than our 4th.

Win win in my book.

such as speed and.. size? is that an attribute? are the Devils "short" on size? lol

I'm starting to question if our 3rd and 4th lines will be above average, as some think. I think we're so used to half the team being from the minors that actual NHL forwards makes the lines good. I think they may just be average at best.

say any combo of last year's version of Simmonds (we have no proof of improvement yet), an aging *defensive* Zajac, a grinder in Coleman, or a Zacha that hasn't put together offense at the NHL level.

Does that group scream "above average" 3rd line to you?

And now the 4th line cluster. Hopes and dreams with unproven Boqvist, unproven McLeod who struggled to stay on his skates, Wood.. who is fast and ..is fast..but lacks scoring touch or NHL smarts. Rooney, who is forgettable. And then Hayden.. who was bad enough for a team to trade for an equally lacking Q. So the 4th line is a prayer.

But we're all optimistic on these bottom 6 players. Maybe we should be. But they have just as great odds of being a flop than being above average.

It all rides on Hischer and Hughes. Hall will likely miss 20+ games. Gusev will be adjusting to the NHL, and Hughes/Hischier can play a big part in that adjustment. Bratt too is a wildcard.
- MartysBetter88

Jesus dude, everything alright?

The attributes I was referring to was driving for the net and chasing down pucks. Playing with some grit and bringing it. Not so much the size but not playing soft.

I think the line combos are still very much in the air but Wood is likely to play with:

Zacha or Zajac as his center and probably Simmonds or Coleman as his RW.

Any combo of that is probably a very good 3rd/4th line.

Hyden and Rooney are unlikely but Bastian and McLeod could work their way in. No idea what happens with Boqvist since they landed Gusev.
- Queenie_5_hole

I still think they keep Boqvist. At this point Rooney is my pick to be the extra forward and if they don't run with 8 D on the roster to start, Hayden or Bastian take the last spot.

Jesus dude, everything alright?
- rmdevil313

yes lol. just looking at the other side of the coin. We're assuming things will be roses and sunshine, but I provided reason why maybe that's not a reasonable expectation.

"He's the hottest human I've ever seen"
- Ryan Whitney, on seeing Miles Wood at an event recently.
Spitten Chiclets "The Crosby interview episode"

"He's the hottest human I've ever seen"
- Ryan Whitney, on seeing Miles Wood at an event recently.
Spitten Chiclets "The Crosby interview episode"
- rcerick

Looks like James Franco

yes lol. just looking at the other side of the coin. We're assuming things will be roses and sunshine, but I provided reason why maybe that's not a reasonable expectation.
- MartysBetter88

Most of it you're just poopting on players without much of a point. Zajac had 46 points + elite defensive play yet that's not a good 3rd liner? Coleman with over 20 goals + great defensive play?

Most of it you're just poopting on players without much of a point. Zajac had 46 points + elite defensive play yet that's not a good 3rd liner? Coleman with over 20 goals + great defensive play?
- rmdevil313

We're going to be the first team to go 0-82 then all of the players are going to file league grievances to get their contracts terminated then the team will be contracted. Unfortunate it's going to happen but it's inevitable.

I think we'll be fine, but I'm pointing out why it's possible our bottom 6 isn't as stellar as we're assuming.

such as speed and.. size? is that an attribute? are the Devils "short" on size? lol

I'm starting to question if our 3rd and 4th lines will be above average, as some think. I think we're so used to half the team being from the minors that actual NHL forwards makes the lines good. I think they may just be average at best.

say any combo of last year's version of Simmonds (we have no proof of improvement yet), an aging *defensive* Zajac, a grinder in Coleman, or a Zacha that hasn't put together offense at the NHL level.

Does that group scream "above average" 3rd line to you?

And now the 4th line cluster. Hopes and dreams with unproven Boqvist, unproven McLeod who struggled to stay on his skates, Wood.. who is fast and ..is fast..but lacks scoring touch or NHL smarts. Rooney, who is forgettable. And then Hayden.. who was bad enough for a team to trade for an equally lacking Q. So the 4th line is a prayer.

But we're all optimistic on these bottom 6 players. Maybe we should be. But they have just as great odds of being a flop than being above average.

It all rides on Hischer and Hughes. Hall will likely miss 20+ games. Gusev will be adjusting to the NHL, and Hughes/Hischier can play a big part in that adjustment. Bratt too is a wildcard.
- MartysBetter88

The size of wood is impressive

Thats what she said..

I hope you are right Todd, because having wood around not doing anything is just wrong.
- Leniwm1

Realistically, we need to do a multi player trade. On the LW, Hall/Gusev/Bratt/Coleman/Boq all rival Wood. As far as I am concerned, we need a multi player trade in hopes of acquiring a #1LD, or a 1/2 RW. I think Coleman + Vats+ 2nd rd pick or something for one big player would be great, and reduce some of our congestion! Bratt could potentially move to the RW as well, and allow Boq into the lineup. We have lots of depth, and Wood is basically a bottom 6 T. Hall. Drives the wing and generates chances. We just can't justify giving him TOI with all the other options.

Realistically, we need to do a multi player trade. On the LW, Hall/Gusev/Bratt/Coleman/Boq all rival Wood. As far as I am concerned, we need a multi player trade in hopes of acquiring a #1LD, or a 1/2 RW. I think Coleman + Vats+ 2nd rd pick or something for one big player would be great, and reduce some of our congestion! Bratt could potentially move to the RW as well, and allow Boq into the lineup. We have lots of depth, and Wood is basically a bottom 6 T. Hall. Drives the wing and generates chances. We just can't justify giving him TOI with all the other options.
- bikeguy99

Realistically, we need to see what we have. Let these guys play in training camp and let them play some games before doing anything. Let Taylor Hall figure out what he's going to do long term.

Most of our players are coming off a rocky year so letting them play could increase their trade value. Also, injuries do a great job clearing out what looks like congestion in camp.

At some point around when camp starts teams are going to need to deal with the cap so maybe a good trade opportunity falls into our lap. Teams are also going to need to cut down roster sizes. So a lot can happen. There is no reason to try to force anything vs. waiting for a possible opportunity.