Could Islanders Dance with Devils Free Agent This Summer?

Could the New York Islanders dance with a New Jersey Devils free agent this summer?

The New York Islanders signing an ex-New Jersey Devils that Lou Lamoriello drafted?

Never heard that one before. However, it could be something that happens again.

Let's make something clear right off the bat. The Islanders do not need any more bottom-six players at this very moment. If anything, they need to shed some of their depth forwards and find a way to obtain top-line talent.

Despite the need for that top-line game-changer, we have seen this Islanders team under Lamoriello fail to acquire those elite players in free agency, and with their backs against the wall, cap-wise, there likely will not be as many changes as the fan base is calling for. 

Phoning Miles Wood and his agent Peter Fish. 

The 27-year-old, drafted by Lamoriello 100th overall in 2013, is coming off a 13-goal, 14-assist campaign, playing in 72 games before potting two goals in eight postseason contests.  

Although the numbers don't jump off the page, Wood brings something the Islanders are missing.

Speed.

Wood is a grinding forward, who gets in on the forecheck. He likes to lay the body, hitting the 100-hit mark this past season—the second time he's done so in his eight-year NHL career.

The Islanders are a slow team to begin with and need a player in the bottom six who can use his skates to create offense off the rush and get back on breakdowns.

The speedy Pierre Engvall, who the Islanders acquired after Mathew Barzal went down with an injury, is a pending unrestricted free agent, and there's no guarantee he will come back. 

Here are the current bottom-six forwards that the Islanders have under contract for 2023-24: Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck, Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, Hudson Fasching, & Ross Johnston.

Bailey is likely getting moved this summer, and Clutterbuck was banged up the entire 2022-23 season. Martin is coming off a career-high offensive season, while Cizikas is coming off his highest point total in four years. 

Fasching just signed a two-year extension, while rookie Holmstrom showed off his defensive prowess but lacked finishing ability. 

Ross Johnston is at the bottom of the totem pole. 

The Islanders must also determine what they want to do with pending unrestricted free agent Zach Parise, who will be entering his age 39 season -- if he chooses to continue his career. 

Regarding the fourth line, who knows the game plan for the fourth line in 2023-24, as the Islanders' brass could decide to break them up. 

There's no guarantee that Martin and Clutterbuck will be everyday players in 2023-24.

Johnston isn't an everyday NHLer.

Yes, the Islanders have a few prospects like Arnaud Durandeau, who could fit one of those spots, or maybe a player like William Dufour, although he seems like he is still a few years away.

Alongside Cizikas, Wood would bring something to the Islanders' fourth line that we haven't seen in a while, with two players that can get up the ice. Add Fasching to the right wing on that line, and you may have got something.

Wood put pen to paper last August on a one-year deal worth $3.2 million after playing just three games in the final year of a four-year contract with New Jersey due to a hip injury that required surgery.

There's no question Wood's play, back healthy, wasn't up to par, and his lack of discipline was why he served as a healthy scratch in two games in Round One against the New York Rangers.

Wood has only played for New Jersey, and a change of scenery at this point of his career, to a team whose style fits his, may prove beneficial. 

If Wood can be a bit more disciplined, he could help revamp the Islanders' fourth line.

Although Miles has only played for the Devils, his father Randy played his first five-plus NHL seasons with the Islanders, from 1986-1992.

Stan Fischler has more. 

Cross Island Parkway should not be confused with the Rue de Rumeur,

The roadway is real, while the NHL's Street of Rumors can be compared to a smoke ring; it soon fades away.

But when rumors fly - as they're doing right now -- it's within the limits of the law to listen. You won't be arrested either for making a judgment on what follows.

There's talk -- and just that, talk -- that pending unrestricted free agent forward Miles Wood could wind up wearing an Islanders jersey next September.

My ears perked up at the mere whisper for two reasons:

1. I knew Miles' dad, Randy Wood, as an Islander. We were good pals 'way

back when.

2. I knew Miles as a Devil. I was doing MSG Networks New Jersey telecasts when he came to Newark. As a matter of fact, he was one of my favorite interviews.

One of my first conversations with Randy, the Islander, was when he still was an up-and-down winger; but this was one of his first "ups."

It was the 1986-87 campaign, better known as "The Season Of The Easter Epic."

On April 18, 1987, the Islanders played their longest game, beating Washington, 3-2, on Pat LaFontaine's goal in the fourth overtime period. It catapulted the Nassaumen into the next playoff round against Philadelphia.

Fatigued from The Epic, the Isles still managed to come from behind a three-games-to-one deficit. And it was in Game Five when Randy Wood came through.

On April 28, 1987, he deflected defenseman Ken Morrow's blueline wrister past goalie Ron Hextall at 3:27 of the third period for what turned out to be the winning goal in the 2-1 decision. Yes, the Flyers would eventually rally for the series win, but Wood already had proven his worth.

A season later, Randy became one of the Islanders' leaders, helping the team to the Patrick Division championship under coach Terry Simpson. He played in 75 games and scored 22 goals with 16 assists for 38 points.

A former varsity stick handler at Yale, Randy was a solid two-way scrapper whose best season was 1989-90 when he went 24-24-48. But on October 25, 1991, a date that would be carved in ice, he would say sayonara to Hempstead Turnpike.

Randy was part of one of the franchise's most memorable trades. Along with Pat LaFontaine and Randy Hillier, Wood was traded to Buffalo for Pierre

Turgeon, Benoit Hogue, Uwe Krupp, and Dave McLlwain.

Wood's 12-year NHL career included stops with the Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars. Interestingly, he returned to Uniondale in 1996-97 and played 65 more games before saying adios to big league hockey.

As for Miles -- and the possibility of him becoming an Islander -- I remember him well as a Devil.

I liked Miles most of all because of his firewagon style of flying up and down his wing; not to mention the important fact (to me, as an announcer ) that he -- like his dad -- was good in a one-on-one schmooze.

But that was then, and this is now, and what's vital coming up is how Lou

Lamoriello chooses to remodel his team. And, really, whether Miles Wood could help bolster the roster.

To get an objective line on Randy's son I checked with a pair of astute Devils-watchers who have followed Wood's career from the moment he skated on The Rock's pond.

MSG Networks Leo Scaglione, Jr., who doubles as tech ace for MSG telecasts and also is a team historian, has been impressed with Wood's overall game.

"When Miles plays with pace and is physical," said Scaglione, Jr., "he masters his role. He has exceptional speed and, when he's on his game, he's a perfect third or fourth-liner who can chip in offensively."

While I, personally, still was on the Devils' beat, I remember times when I wanted more out of Miles and got quarter miles instead.

Scaglione, Jr.: "There were too many nights this past season when Miles just wasn't consistent; nor even noticeable, for that matter. I recall feeling that someone with his speed and strength should be making more of an appearance."

In all fairness to Wood, it should be noted that -- because of injuries -- he missed nearly all of last season. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that it took a while this term for him to return to his normal game speed.

"When Wood was slotted with Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian," added

Scaglione, Jr., "the three of them proved to be an excellent unit and, arguably, one of the best lines for New Jersey in the playoffs."

A former News 12 New Jersey Emmy Award-winner and Devils historian, George Falkowski, was asked whether Wood could be an asset to the Isles.

"When Miles is playing healthy, hard, and smart," Falkowski insisted, "he's an asset, and he could be a good fit for Lou. Wood certainly restored his value with a strong playoff performance.

"Unfortunately, early on, we saw both the best and worst of him. There's terrific

speed, a scorer's touch, and grit combined with the tendency to take a bad penalty in a tight spot."

The asterisk that must be inserted when evaluating Wood has to be the *injury

factor. Or, as Falkowski noted: "His physical style of play has led to injury

troubles. Then again, I certainly can see Lou being attracted to him because he drafted Miles in 2013."

No matter how you shake it, right now, the possibility of Miles Wood as an Islander remains on Rue de Rumeur.

But as we also know, where there are smoke rings, there just might be -- who knows?

This much is certain, sooner or later, we shall know whether Miles Wood will become an Islander!