Former Avalanche forward set to show Colorado they made a massive mistake
Photo credit: Jason Mowry / Mile High Hockey
Former Avalanche veteran forward Miles Wood is ready to make a statement and show Colorado they made a huge mistake by trading him to the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this offseason.
Over the summer, the Blue Jackets, sending prospect Gavin Brindley and draft picks to the Avalanche in exchange for Wood and Charlie Coyle.
Miles Wood ready to show Colorado that they made a huge mistake.
Curtis Deem from Union and Blue writes that over his career, Wood has tallied 91 goals and 182 points, with 550 penalty minutes and a cumulative -73 rating.
Averaging just 13:05 of ice time per game, essentially low third-line minutes, he's expected to join the Blue Jackets in a bottom-six role, most likely as the fourth-line left wing.
"He will bring some interesting traits to the mix. At 6'2" and near 200 pounds, he's one of the fastest skaters in the entire NHL, ranking in the 99th percentile for top skating speed. He is a straight lines player with a touch of physicality, preferring to speed down the wall and get in hard on the forecheck to create havoc in the offensive zone." -Deem
Wood should be motivated to recapture what he lacked last season in Colorado, where he managed just 4 goals and 8 points in 37 games. He's expected to fit seamlessly into Evason's system in the Blue Jackets' bottom six, likely on the fourth line alongside Isac Lundestrom and Mathieu Olivier. This trio could turn into one of the NHL's most effective fourth lines, you read that correctly.
"On paper, this line works. Olivier showed us that he's much more than just a pair of fists last season, setting a career high with 18 goals. He will keep opposing teams honest from a variety of perspectives.
Lundestrom comes to Columbus as one of the better defensive centers in the entire NHL, and his mature two-way game should free up his wingers to impose their physical and scoring wills." -Deem
Lundestrom comes to Columbus as one of the better defensive centers in the entire NHL, and his mature two-way game should free up his wingers to impose their physical and scoring wills." -Deem
Put together, this fourth line would have a little bit of everything. If each player buys into their role and keeps things simple, they could become a matchup nightmare, not by scoring a ton of goals, but by making every puck battle difficult for the opposition.
For Wood, this presents a prime opportunity to reestablish his NHL career and prove the value of his contract.
TRENDING NOW
