Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

New Jersey Devils: 5 Players Costing Themselves A Lot of Money

By Nick Villano

Niko Mikkola #77 of the New York Rangers checks Jesper Bratt #63 of the New Jersey Devils during the third period during Game One in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 5-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Niko Mikkola #77 of the New York Rangers checks Jesper Bratt #63 of the New Jersey Devils during the third period during Game One in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 5-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
New Jersey Devils
Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Miles Wood, Current AAV $3.2 million

Miles Wood will get a new contract from some team who falls in love with his intangibles. He’s one of the fastest skaters in the league and plays with a hard edge. A coaching staff will look at everything he brings to the table and decide he’s the missing piece. That’s going to happen no matter what. Ignore all of Wood’s flaws, but he looks great in practice.

Wood could have turned into a $5 million player. Someone would have given it to him if he was able to have a few moments in this postseason. That’s how he was able to negotiate a raise this past offseason on a one-year deal despite missing all of last season.

The Devils avoided arbitration with Wood, giving him about $500,000 more than his previous AAV. It was a one-year deal that sends him straight to unrestricted free agency. It made sense for both sides. The Devils really missed Wood last season. This season, however, he looked incredibly ineffective after November. He would go on weeks-long scoreless streaks. His incessant penalties constantly put the Devils in a bind.

However, if the price drops as we expect, don’t be floored if the Devils bring Wood back. It all depends on what happens from here on out. They did trade for Curtis Lazar, who has two more years at a very small number. Let’s see how it all works out, but for now, Wood has cost himself a ton of money with a pretty dreadful first two games of this series.

Home/Editorials