Miles Wood Bio
Miles William Wood is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL entry draft. Standing 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) tall and weighing 195 lb (88 kg), Wood plays a physical, left-shot game and has been a steady middle-six contributor since entering the league in 2016.
Born on September 13, 1995, in Buffalo, New York, Wood grew up in Manchester, Massachusetts, and developed through the New England prep school ranks before a single season at Boston College launched his professional career. Across stints with the Devils and the Colorado Avalanche, he has built a reputation for speed, forechecking, and penalty killing.
Early Life and Background
Miles William Wood was born on September 13, 1995, in Buffalo, New York, and raised in Manchester, Massachusetts. Growing up in a hockey family, he was on the ice from a young age and quickly progressed through youth and minor hockey programs in the region. As a child, he participated in the 2007 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Middlesex Islanders, where his teammates included future NHL players Jon Gillies and Matt Grzelcyk.
Wood attended Noble and Greenough School, a prep school in Massachusetts, where he starred on the hockey team and developed the two-way game that would become his trademark. Even as a teenager, he stood out for his combination of size, skating, and willingness to engage physically, traits that made him an attractive prospect for NHL scouts. The Devils selected him 100th overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft while he was still playing at the prep level.
Path to Hockey
After being drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2013, Wood remained at Noble and Greenough School to complete his development, graduating in 2015. He then committed to Boston College, joining the Eagles of Hockey East for the 2015–16 season. In his lone collegiate campaign, he showed enough offensive skill and responsible two-way play to convince the Devils he was ready for the professional ranks.
Following the 2015–16 season, Wood ended his collegiate career and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils on April 8, 2016. He made his NHL debut the very next night, April 9, 2016, in a 5–1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, signaling the start of his full-time professional career. The rapid transition from college hockey to the NHL was a clear sign of the organization’s confidence in his readiness.
Miles Wood Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Wood’s first full NHL season came in 2016–17 with the New Jersey Devils, where he established himself as an energetic, physical rookie. He scored his first NHL goal on November 29, 2016, in a 3–2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, a milestone that confirmed his ability to produce at the top level. Working in a bottom-six role, he provided energy, penalty killing, and a physical presence that earned him steady ice time.
Through his early seasons, Wood developed the agitator’s edge that has come to define parts of his game, using his speed and reach to pressure opponents and create turnovers. He continued to refine his play away from the puck, an area the Devils’ coaching staff emphasized as he grew accustomed to the NHL’s pace and schedule.
New Jersey Devils Breakthrough (2017–2023)
The 2017–18 season marked Wood’s true arrival as an NHL contributor. On November 12, 2017, he recorded his first NHL hat trick in a 7–5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, a performance that announced his offensive ceiling. He finished that regular season with a career-best 32 points, and on April 5, 2018, his goal sealed a 2–1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs that clinched a playoff spot for the Devils. Before the 2018–19 season, Wood signed a four-year contract extension, rewarding his breakout campaign.
Across the next several seasons, Wood remained a fixture in the Devils’ lineup, providing a mix of secondary scoring, penalty killing, and physicality. On February 18, 2018, he received a two-game suspension for boarding Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov, a reminder of the aggressive edge that accompanied his style. Through eight seasons with New Jersey, he became a respected veteran presence in the locker room.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2023–2025)
Wood left the Devils as a free agent and was promptly signed to a six-year, $15 million contract by the Colorado Avalanche on July 1, 2023, the opening day of free agency. The Avalanche added him to bolster their bottom-six forward group with speed, forechecking, and penalty killing. In his first season in Colorado, he slotted into a checking role and contributed to one of the league’s deepest rosters.
His second year with the Avalanche was hampered by injuries, limiting his appearances and production. Despite the setbacks, Wood remained a popular teammate and continued to provide energy when healthy, helping Colorado maintain its status as a Western Conference contender.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2025–Present)
On June 27, 2025, after completing his second year with the Avalanche, Wood was traded, along with center Charlie Coyle, to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for prospect Gavin Brindley, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 third-round selection. The move gave Columbus a veteran left-shot forward capable of playing in all situations. Wood is under contract with the Blue Jackets through the 2028–29 season, with a total contract value of $15 million.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wood’s game is built on speed, physicality, and relentless forechecking. He excels at pressuring opposing defensemen, winning board battles, and killing penalties with a disruptive, aggressive approach. Coaches have trusted him in defensive-zone matchups and on the penalty kill, where his anticipation and reach make him a disruptive force.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Wood’s first NHL hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017 stands out, as does the late-season goal that clinched the Devils’ 2018 playoff berth. He debuted in the NHL in April 2016 and recorded his first goal that November, milestones that bookend his rise from a fourth-round pick to a dependable NHL veteran.
Miles Wood Career Wins
Across his professional career, Miles Wood has accumulated team success and individual milestones, including a career-high 32 points in 2017–18 and a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks. He has been part of playoff pushes in New Jersey and Colorado, contributing to contending rosters in each stop. While he is not primarily a point-producer, his two-way reliability and special teams value have made him a consistent winner at the NHL level.
NHL Highlights
Wood’s most memorable NHL moment came on November 12, 2017, when he scored his first hat trick in a 7–5 win over the Blackhawks. He added a clinching goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 5, 2018, helping the Devils reach the Stanley Cup playoffs. Across his time with New Jersey, Colorado, and now Columbus, he has remained a dependable middle-six presence.
Other Wins & Performances
Earlier in his development, Wood competed in the 2007 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, a prestigious youth event that has showcased many future NHL players. He also represented the United States at various junior levels during his amateur career.
Miles Wood Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Wood family. Miles Wood’s father, Randy Wood, played in the NHL for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars, giving Miles a direct connection to the professional game. His paternal grandfather, R. Norman Wood, served as the head coach of Princeton University’s hockey team between 1959 and 1965, further embedding the sport in the family’s identity. His older brother, Tyler, also pursued hockey and played briefly in Germany.
Personal Life
A well-known story from Wood’s childhood illustrates his early connection to the NHL. When he was 11 years old, he wrote a letter to Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin asking him to autograph his hockey card, jokingly promising to check Ovechkin the first chance he got in the NHL. Although Ovechkin never returned the card, he did autograph a photo for Wood before their first NHL meeting at the Verizon Center.
2025 Season Performance
Wood began 2025 with the Colorado Avalanche, where injuries limited his availability across the 2024–25 campaign. Despite the setbacks, he remained a respected voice in the locker room and a reliable penalty killer when healthy. His time in Colorado ended with a trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 27, 2025, signaling a fresh start.
Joining Columbus gives Wood an opportunity to play a significant middle-six role under a young, evolving Blue Jackets roster. With his contract running through the 2028–29 season, he is expected to contribute on the penalty kill, provide physicality, and help mentor younger forwards. As Columbus continues its rebuild, Wood’s experience and two-way play will be central to the team’s push for sustained competitiveness in the Eastern Conference.
Heading into the 2025–26 NHL season, Wood’s outlook centers on staying healthy and reclaiming the form that made him a 30-plus-point contributor in New Jersey. His blend of speed, grit, and veteran poise gives Columbus a dependable presence up front as the franchise eyes a return to playoff contention.
