The Devils are down to their final roster calls, and one of the more intriguing questions around camp is whether they’ll carry three goaltenders or keep Stefan Noesen in the mix for one of the last two spots. Amadeus Lombardi also remains in the conversation, though putting him on waivers still looks like a long shot after the team has held off on using waivers so far.
Saturday brought a wave of notable names onto waivers around the league, including Lukas Reichel of the Boston Bruins, Justin Holl of the Calgary Flames, and Angus Crookshank, who was recently traded by the Devils and then placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers. But the name that really got Devils fans talking was a familiar one: Miles Wood.
Wood was drafted by New Jersey and spent eight seasons with the organization before leaving in free agency. During his Devils run, he became a fan favorite despite the rough edges in his game.
His stickhandling was never his calling card, but his straight-line speed made him dangerous, and he managed four straight seasons of double-digit goals as a bottom-six regular. That kind of production from a fourth-line winger is exactly the sort of thing the Devils have been trying to recreate.
He also left on the heels of the Devils’ strong 2022-23 season, signing a six-year deal with an average annual value of $2.5 million. It was easy to understand why New Jersey passed on that kind of term and money, but the team has been searching for a player who could give them 12-17 goals a year from the bottom of the lineup ever since.
Still, the reunion idea runs into a simple problem: Wood has not been the same player since departing New Jersey. In his first season after leaving, he put up nine goals and 26 points.
That was a little below his career pace, but still respectable. Since then, though, the numbers have fallen off hard.
In 2024-25, he had four goals and four assists in 37 games with the Avalanche before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a surprising deal that moved his remaining four years at full salary. Last season with Columbus, he finished with eight goals and six assists in 54 games.
Given that stretch, it wasn’t exactly shocking to see him land on waivers. The Blue Jackets would clearly like to escape the contract if they can, and Wood will likely spend part or all of next season in the AHL.
For the Devils, nostalgia alone isn’t enough here. Wood is 31, has dealt with multiple injury-filled seasons since leaving, and his value has always been tied to his speed.
That’s a risky profile, and one New Jersey should probably stay away from.
In Other News...
Amadeus Lombardi Is Making The Devils Roster Decision Much Harder
Amadeus Lombardi has turned a quiet camp opportunity into a real roster conversation for the Devils. After arriving from the Detroit Red Wings, the young forward has looked comfortable alongside veterans in training camp and has backed it up with an impressive preseason, the kind of run that makes coaches pause when opening night decisions get close.
His tying goal against the Rangers only added to the sense that he belongs in the mix. For a player who faced his share of hurdles in Detroit, Lombardi now has a legitimate chance to crack New Jerseys lineup, and the question is no longer whether he has caught attention but whether the Devils can afford to keep him off the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Need These Under-The-Radar Players To Deliver This Season
The Devils are entering the season with more than the usual attention on their top names, and that is by design. General manager Sunny Mehta has spent the offseason trying to turn a few overlooked pieces into real contributors, with Luke Evangelista, Amadeus Lombardi, Cody Glass, Declan Chisholm and Luke Hughes all drawing interest as possible breakout players if things click in the right way.
For New Jersey, the appeal is obvious: if even a couple of those under-the-radar bets pay off, the roster gets deeper and a lot harder to line up against. The challenge is less about identifying talent than getting the right kind of season out of it, and the Devils are banking on internal growth to help them raise their level without having to lean only on the familiar names at the top of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Identity Shift Is Raising One Big Roster Question
The Devils have spent the preseason looking like a group with a clearer edge, and it has shown up in the details that usually matter most once the games start counting. Physical shifts, better support through the middle of the ice and a calmer overall structure have all suggested a team trying to build something sturdier than last years version, while younger names such as Marc McLaughlin, Maty Melovsk, Amadeus Lombardi and Anton Silaev have given the staff reasons to keep watching closely.
For general manager Sunny Mehta, that makes the next roster decisions feel especially important. The organization is still sorting through depth and trying to separate flashes from something more lasting, which means the competition for spots is not just about who has looked good in a few exhibition games, but who can fit into a broader identity shift the Devils seem intent on making real. [Read more 🡒]