Produces offense mostly on shot volume. Is heavy on forecheck. Was the fastest straight-line skater on Devils for years. Is great at stretching the ice. Plays physical, can play role of being a pest, fights if needed, plays in dirty areas. At his worst, he can take a few too many bad penalties and slump due to fewer chances. At his best, can take over any shift.
He had a major hip injury that required surgery in October 2021 and he sat out 2021-22 (he came back at end of season for a few games). They said it would take six months to recover, probably another year to fully get his legs back. In 2022-23, he started off slow. Didn’t seem to have that top gear. But we started to see the usually Wood at end of year and in playoffs a bit.
(Also, a really intelligent guy…got into Brown and Princeton…and often is nominated as team rep on labor issues and other matters).
I thought he would have been someone for a 1-year ‘prove it’ deal…then cash in long term next summer. But at $2.5m it is good value for Avs.
Great candidate for a rebound. Expect 15-20 goals and a physical mixer-upper in bottom-six.
Good signing
I like Wood. Signed him a couple times in my acgms. I think I even had him around 2.5M. I never went 6 years though, and I find it a bit crazy that the team was comfortable doing so.
Hope it turns into a steal, and it very well might, but I think there is just as high a likelihood Wood ends up being an overpaid fourth liner. What gives me some optimism is that he fits the Avs system very nicely in paper. Hope it translates to the ice.
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