Maple Leafs are trying to flip a recently acquired forward

The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly trying to trade Miles Wood only a couple months after acquiring him as party of the Matthew Knies blockbuster trade.

Earlier this season, the Maple Leafs made a blockbuster deal that involved sending Matthew Knies along with Steven Lorentz and Emil Andrae to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood.

Currently, all three of the Maple Leafs' acquisitions are injured, though Marchenko had been stellar up until he got hurt, with 14 points in 14 games. But Merzlikins is working his way back from shoulder surgery and Wood has been out basically since he came over.

Maple Leafs are trying to cut Wood out of their system

And it seems like the Maple leafs are trying to find a way out of his deal.

According to David Pagnotta, the Maple Leafs are looking to make a move that involves a few of their veteran contracts, with Wood's name being mentioned as a name the team has been trying to move:

Dakota Joshua's name's been out there, they've been trying to move Miles Wood; they've been trying to create additional cap space for next season.

Wood, 31, has yet to play this season after injuries have kept him on the shelf and is coming off an eight-goal, 14-point season in 2025-26. He had a stretch where he averaged 14 goals and 26 points from 2018-2021 with the Devils, but hasn't reached those heights since.

He's a speedy winger who has scoring potential, but the Maple Leafs are already pretty logjammed in their botttom-six and they currently don't have the room for Wood at the NHL or AHL level.

Getting out of his $2.5M contract (signed through 2028-2029) is going to be a useful tool if if helps the Maple Leafs get money in for a future #1 defenseman. They are going to need as much financial help as possible, and Wood is certainly an expendable piece.

Wood's value may cost Toronto anything of...well, value

The only problem is that Wood hasn't played this year, is coming off an injury, and there's no telling his true value anymore. His season last year wasn't great, and it's hard to see him fit in anywhere meaningful.

Toronto would be lucky to get a mid-tier prospect or middle of the pack draft pick but it's better than letting dead money sit there.

Wood was basically a throw-in for Columbus to shed some salary and the Maple Leafs are trying to do the same, but may not get as lucky. If he can be put in another package somehow and get some value back then at this point it's a win.

But right now, Wood has no place on the Maple Leafs and they're doing their best to find him a new home. Whether they accomplish that goal though remains to be seen.

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