Playing career
Wood was born in Buffalo, New York but grew up in Manchester, Massachusetts. [1] As a youth, Wood played in the 2007 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Middlesex Islanders minor ice hockey team, along with teammates Jon Gillies and Matt Grzelcyk. [2]
Wood was playing at the prep school level with the Noble and Greenough School when he was drafted 100th overall, in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils. He remained at the school for the next two years, graduating in 2015. [3]
Following the 2015–16 season, his freshman year with Boston College in the Hockey East, Wood ended his collegiate career and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils on April 8, 2016. [4] He made his NHL debut for the Devils the following night on April 9, in a 5–1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. [5]
On November 29, 2016, Wood scored his first NHL goal in a 3–2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. [6]
The 2017–18 season was a breakout year for Wood who set career highs in points and played in his first NHL playoff game. On November 12, 2017, Wood scored his first NHL hat trick in a 7–5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. [7] On February 18, 2018, Wood was suspended without pay for 2 games for boarding Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov. [8] Wood helped the Devils clinch a spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs by scoring the goal that won the game in a 2–1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 5, 2018. [9] Wood ended the regular season with a career-best 32 points and signed a four-year contract with the Devils before the 2018–19 season. [10]
Having played eight seasons with the Devils, Wood left the organization as a free agent and was promptly signed to a six-year, $15 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche on the opening day of free agency on July 1, 2023. [11]
After an injury plagued 2024–25 season, and having completed his second year with the Avalanche, Wood was traded alongside Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for prospect Gavin Brindley, 2026 second round pick and 2027 third-round selection on June 27, 2025. [12]
Personal life
When Wood was 11 years old he wrote a letter to Washington Capitals star, Alexander Ovechkin, asking him to autograph his hockey card. In the letter, Wood promised that if Ovechkin did not sign and return the card that he would check him the first chance he got to play against him when he made it to the NHL. Although Ovechkin never returned the card, he autographed a photo for Wood before facing him for the first time at the Verizon Center. [13]
Wood's father, Randy Wood, played in the NHL for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars. Wood's older brother, Tyler, briefly played in Germany during his career. [14]
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