The Colorado Avalanche have signed forward Miles Wood to a six-year contract worth an average annual value of $2.5 million.
Well, no one saw this coming.
The Colorado Avalanche took quite the swing on Saturday, agreeing to terms with forward Miles Wood on a six-year contract worth an average annual value of $2.5 million.
The deal ties marks Wood's official departure from the New Jersey Devils, who drafted him 10 years ago in 2013.
Without a doubt, this is the most confounding move of July 1.
Wood is effective in certain areas of the game but brings very limited offensive upside, arriving in Colorado with career highs 19 goals, and 32 points that he established five years ago in 2017-18. Last season, Wood finished with 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points in 76 games for the Devils, logging just 12:06 in average nightly ice time.
To hand six years to a player of Wood's skill set makes very little sense for a team like the Avalanche who are hoping to maintain their contention window. A $2.5 million cap is also a noted overpayment based on his offensive totals, with Wood's main attribute being his speed and physicality..
The Avalanche don't typically overpay and over-commit to depth players outside of their core group. Wood certainly represents a rare diversion from their typical plan.
Stay tuned. Signings have continued to roll in late into the day.