It’s tough when teams trade away fan favorites. They’re the sort of trades that sting fans, even if there’s a logical reason for it.
In the Colorado Avalanche’s case, trading Miles Wood was a bit of an unpopular decision. But the organization had to do it amid a tough cap crunch.
That was in the summer of 2025. The Avs needed to clear cap space, and so, the club moved a recent acquisition, Charlie Coyle, to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Along with Coyle went Wood.
At the time, the move was interesting as Wood had signed a six-year deal in Colorado totaling $15 million. When the Avs’ inked Wood, some eyebrows were raised at the term of the deal. But there was a clear logic there. Wood was part of the Roaring 20s line and seemed like a fixture for the foreseeable future.
But times change and so does the cap situation.
Two of the three members of the aforementioned line are gone. First, it was Wood, and then Ross Colton. The Avalanche have been methodical in the moves they have made, given the team’s need to clear up cap space.
That’s why, in hindsight, the Wood trade looks like a brilliant move.
The former Avalanche has found himself in some really hard times. He didn’t make the Blue Jackets this season, finding himself on waivers. To add insult to injury, he cleared. Had another team claimed him, you would think the 31-year-old would get a fresh start elsewhere. Alas, that is not the case.
Wood is a cap dump for Blue Jackets just like he was for Avalanche
Sadly, Wood finds himself as a cap dump once again. It’s clear the Blue Jackets don’t want the three remaining years on his contract and have made him a condition in a Kirill Marchenko trade.
Columbus has been getting calls about the Russian forward, particularly after rumors broke out that he is unwilling to re-sign with Columbus. Numerous teams have been linked to Marchenko, but according to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Blue Jackets are asking teams interested in Marchenko to take on Wood’s contract.
While Wood can certainly be an effective role player, not too many teams have $2.5 million in cap space for a fourth-line grinder. Hence, the former fourth-round pick from 2013 finds himself in limbo.
It’s unlikely he’ll get a chance to play in the NHL in Columbus this season. Hopefully, there might be a team out there looking to add some veteran leadership at a relatively modest price.
Until then, one of the Avalanche’s fan favorites finds himself at the end of the road that leads to the NHL. Perhaps there might be a reunion in Colorado, although that would have to happen at some point down the line when the cap is much higher than it is now.
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