New Jersey Devils notes: On Miles Wood's struggles and optimizing the lines

Wood has done more harm than good with his play. Plus, a lineup idea to get the most of the team's current group of forwards.

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Some thoughts as I return from vacation while the New Jersey Devils enter one of their own:

On Miles Wood’s struggles

It is no secret Miles Wood is struggling mightily. It’s gotten to the point where head coach Lindy Ruff is being questioned about why he continues to dress Wood – a $3.2 million player – on a nightly basis; and justifiably so.

While Wood scored last time out against the Dallas Stars, he had put up just three points (one goal, two assists) over 20 games prior.

Among 14 players to log 200+ minutes in that time, Wood’s three points tied him with Brendan Smith and Jonas Siegenthaler – a pair of defense-first defensemen – for last on the team.

Wood failing to produce on the 4th line would be one thing if a) his on-ice impacts were half decent and/or; b) he didn’t skate on the power play.

Unfortunately, that’s not the world we’re living in.

Wood has posted a putrid 37.58% expected goal share over the last 20 games, which has led to *checks notes* a 37.50% actual goal share at 5v5.

While that’s not all on Wood – regular linemate Mikey McLeod is posting comparably bad on-ice metrics – it’s worth noting the latter has started 32 more shifts in the defensive zone (at 5v5) over that period. He also provides value in a penalty killing role whereas Wood does nothing but hurt the Devils on special teams. And that’s not an exaggeration.

Wood has logged 61:19 on the power play this year, an average of well over a minute per game.

The Devils have scored, and conceded, three goals over those 61 minutes. That’s right, folks. They’ve only managed to play opponents even in more than an hour of power play time with Wood on the ice.

On the power play, the Devils have scored an average of 2.94 goals per 60 with Wood. That is a hair less than the Devils, as a team, average per 60 minutes of 5v5 play (2.95).

But, wait, there is more.

Wood does not have a power play point this season. He is not one of the 390 players who’ve managed to find the scoresheet on the man advantage.

Sam Poulin, Jacob Lucchini, Jordan Harris, Morgan Barron, Michael Pezzetta, Dakota Joshua, and Nick Blankenburg all have power play points.

The average fan probably couldn’t tell you who more than one or two of those guys are – let alone which team they play for – yet have managed to outproduce Wood on the power play in next to no ice time.

This is all a very long-winded way of saying Wood is providing little to no value at 5v5 or on the power play. In fact, he is weighing the team down in both areas.

Not only does he continue to hold a spot in the lineup each night; but he is getting some prime minutes while Alexander Holtz (2 goals in 30 PP minutes) and Fabian Zetterlund (3 points in 32 PP minutes), much more talented and productive players, can barely even get into a game.

Optimizing the lines

I’m not sure there is such thing as an optimized 4th line right now given a) Wood is playing extremely poorly (his GAR currently sits at -3.6) and; b) Ruff is unlikely to sit him at all, let alone for an extended period.

In the meantime, though, I’d love to see the following lines in the top-9; at least until Timo Meier is in town. I kid, I kid! Maybe.

Anyways, the lines: