What will Miles Wood make after arbitration?
With the majority of attention directed at Jesper Bratt and his next deal, it’s easy to disregard that New Jersey Devils forward Miles Wood is in a arbitration situation with New Jersey as well. His hearing comes on Saturday.
Remember Miles Wood? The speedy winger that isn’t afraid of dropping his gloves. He’s one year removed from plotting 17 goals mostly from the fourth line. He was the “W” that was driving the “BMW” line with Nathan Bastian and Michael McLeod.
Miles Wood is in a strange territory coming into his RFA contract year having just played 3 games last year and not having a single point. He had just returned from hip surgery, an injury he sustained in the preseason.
This will be Wood’s third NHL contract from the Devils. After his entry level deal, then GM Ray Shero signed him for four years at a cap hit of $2.75 million AAV. The Devils in order to qualify him, it would have cost $3.5 million next year.
Usually, we see players file for arbitration, this time the Devils filed because his output especially after a injury lost season just doesn’t add up. If an arbitrator rules in favor of the Devils, they can relieve up to 15% off that 3.5 mil qualifying offer. Which in a hard cap situation that has barely increased since that contract was signed, ever little bit helps.
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Signing Miles Wood to a one year deal worth $2.975 million seems more reasonable at this point. His arbitration hearing is scheduled for Saturday August 6th.