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New Jersey Devils: Losing Miles Wood Is A Massive Blow

By Nick Villano

Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Rangers in a preseason game at the Prudential Center on October 01, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Rangers in a preseason game at the Prudential Center on October 01, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils announced on Monday that Miles Wood was out indefinitely after getting hip surgery. It sounds like there’s the possibility he could miss the entire season after what the team called a “frustrating” injury. It was frustrating for fans as well as they were trying to figure out how Wood’s injury turned from bumps and bruises to now forcing their firecracker to have surgery on his hip.

It honestly sounds like the Devils didn’t expect this, but it’s possible Wood just didn’t respond to the rest and rehab approach. This happens sometimes with injuries, and it’s how teams wait this long to get surgery. Wood’s situation might have looked like “bumps and bruises” until they took a closer look at what was wrong.

The Devils are already without Jack Hughes, who was a major part of this offense. Now, they are looking to replace Miles Wood, who tied for the team lead in goals last season with 17 goals in 55 games. It looked like the Lindy Ruff system was home for him. He found a way to be a positive influence on and off the ice after a season full of penalties and mistakes in 2019-20.

The Devils are going to completely miss him on the ice. Michael McLeod is especially going to miss him. McLeod is just trying to find his place within these lines now that he’s missing Nathan Bastian and now Wood for the foreseeable future. Now, the Devils’ McLeod line is completely in flux. They were forced to put McLeod on the third line after Hughes’ injury, but it’s just not the right place for him.

Wood’s impact will be felt all season. The Devils have to try to find someone internal to replace him. They just sent down Marian Studenic, who at least looked like he could replace his tenacity. Maybe Tyce Thompson could be called up and replace his goal scoring after a huge weekend with Utica.

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The injuries are piling up, and it’s becoming harder and harder to explain what comes next. Thankfully, it looks like Dougie Hamilton is coming back. However, the offense needs serious help. They scored four goals on a three-game road trip against three Western Conference teams that aren’t exactly powerhouses. The Devils needed the shootout and a comeback effort to beat a Sharks team that had half their starters out under COVID protocols. The defense and the goaltending especially has stepped up over the past two weeks. Now, the Devils need the offense to wake up. Especially now that Miles Wood is going to be out possibly for the entire season.

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