New Jersey Devils Rumors: Team To Part Ways With Another Longtime Veteran

After already sending one nine-year veteran out the door in Damon Severson, the New Jersey Devils are seemingly now ready to part ways with their second-longest tenured player, eight-year vet Miles Wood.

As an impending unrestricted free agent, Wood and the Devils have a decision to make by July 1st. But according to Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News, as of this past week, "there has been no communication” between Wood's agent and Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald. If the team does have any interest in bringing back the gritty 27-year-old winger, it's now or never. 

Truth be told, salary cap issues are likely at the heart of the Devils' reticence to work out a free agent deal for the bottom-six forward. 

With 13 goals and 27 points in 76 games, it wasn't the best season of Wood's career, so he won't be heading into free agency on a high. To be fair, he was coming off a serious hip injury that cost him almost the entire 2021-22 season. But there are undoubtedly plenty of teams who would be interested in a character player like the 6'2" Wood if he's ready to agree to a reasonable contract. He made $3.2M this past season. 

Damon Severson was the longest-tenured member of the #NJDevils on this season’s roster, followed by fellow UFA Miles Wood.

If Woody doesn’t return, then starting next season the longest-tenured Devils will be Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt from the 2017-18 NHL season.

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) June 9, 2023

As noted by Devils beat writer Amanda Stein, Wood's exit would leave Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, a pair of six-year veterans, as the longest-tenured members of the team. 

Photo: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports