He signed a six-year, $15 million contract with the Avalanche on July 1.
By the end of the 2022-23 season, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald knew his team was on the fast track to becoming a Stanley Cup contender. His young core got a taste of postseason hockey and now understands how difficult it is to win a round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In this summer series, I will chronologically break down every move the organization made this offseason and discuss how it positively or negatively impacts the team for the 2023-24 season.
Miles Wood is preparing to start a new chapter in his professional hockey career. After eight seasons, his time with the Devils came to an end. On July 1, the speedy winger signed a long-term deal with the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent.
"My goal heading into free agency was to get term, and I was fortunate enough to get that," Wood said during his introductory media availability with the Avalanche. "A lot of one and two-year deals were handed out, so I feel very fortunate that I got a six-year deal. From the start, Colorado was always a team that I would love to play for."
Fitzgerald shared on June 28 that his remaining unrestricted free agents, including Wood, would test free agency. It was the right decision for both the Devils organization and Wood, who, on paper, seems like a perfect fit for the Avalanche.
He will be 28 years old in two days and wanted a multi-year deal. One can't blame the player for wanting the security that accompanies a long-term contract, but with the Devils handing eight-year deals to Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier, it did not make sense for Fitzgerald to give Wood what he was looking for.
New Jersey has many prospects looking to jump from the American Hockey League (AHL) to the NHL. Alexander Holtz, Nolan Foote, and Graeme Clarke, to name a few. In March, the club traded for depth forward Curtis Lazar and signed free agent Tomas Nosek this summer. Wood's replacement is already within the organization, making the decision to let him walk unsurprising.
Many project Wood to play on the Avalanche's third line alongside New Jersey native Ross Colton and Logan O'Connor. He will face his former team for the first time on Nov. 7 in Denver and will make his return to Prudential Center on Feb. 6, 2024. Both games will be nationally televised.
