From Miles' Perspective | THREE THINGS

It has not been easy for Miles Wood.
He has missed the game he's played all his life.
Watching from on-high while his teammates take to the ice at Prudential Center, Wood craved to be out there, but his body was continuing to heal from hip surgery. Instead, he kept a watchful eye over his teammates, anxious to eventually rejoin them, especially seeing from a birds-eye view the growth many of his teammates have taken this year.
As Wood rejoins his teammates at practice, he's getting closer and closer to being a part of the growth on the ice, and in Three Things, Miles Wood shares what he's seen of his teammates while watching from afar.

1. Miles On Mercer

When Wood was participating in training camp, it was clear he began to see something in the young Dawson Mercer. He spoke fondly of what he was seeing from the rookie's first NHL training camp, excited for what was to come. Seeing Mercer on the opening night roster, that was certainly no surprise to the 27-year-old Wood.
"From day one, I mean, I've been around a few training camps here, so you kind of get the sense on who has a real shot. And I knew right from the start that he would (make the team)."
Making the team is one thing, but Mercer has14 goals and 20 assists in his first 59 NHL games, surprising even Wood.
"Would he have this season he's having from my perspective? No, like he's having an unbelievable season and he's gonna be a great player for here for a while. Did I know he would make the team out of camp? Yes. But the fact that he's at what 13 goals or something? Being a 19- or 18-year-old kid, I mean, at that point, I was still in high school. And the fact that he's, he's put on this show throughout the whole year. I'm very happy for him."

2. The Biggest Step

The seasons that Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are having don't shock Wood. He's played alongside both players and knows how supremely talented they both are. But what did surprise Wood was seeing how Hughes shot out of a rocket this season, taking his game to a completely new level.
"Jack has always had the talent there. Especially for the first two years, you didn't as a fan, you probably, you guys probably didn't see it from the TV. But day-in and day-out at practices you clearly saw that talent there. And this year he's taken a huge step I mean; it just clearly shows and seems like a step that you couldn't even imagine how big it would be."
There's certainly no debating that point. The step Hughes has taken this year is beyond what anyone could have hoped for and at only 20-years-old.
"Yeah, surprised on (how huge a step) that he took. Like I said Jack's an unbelievable guy, an unbelievable player, and I'm very happy that the success that he wants is starting to go his way."
Bratt has been in the league a little longer than Hughes has and Wood has been there every year of Bratt's career. He's watched as his career and skills has continually grown in every season and is thrilled for the success he's having, but not the least bit surprised, having watched Bratt build upon every season he's been in the league to get to this point where he's leading the club in points.
Where it felt like Hughes shot out of a cannon, Jesper "was a slower build (to his current success)," Wood shared. "He was more on a steady rise, like you always knew this kid's gonna be very good."

3. Surprised but Not Surprised

Wood had the chance to scope out the blueline and the transformation it has made even from last year. When it comes to the marquee free agent Dougie Hamilton, he's just as advertised, says Wood. But the real surprise, in the most positive of ways, is Jonas Seigenthaler. The team saw slight flashes of his ability last season, but he has really come into his own during the 2021-22 season anchoring the defensive side of the defensemen this season.
"Dougie is an unbelievable player," he said of his teammate he has yet to play with, "I mean, he's only played 30 games or so, (and has) eight goals. So, the talent is clearly there. He's a special player, for sure. But the person who surprised me the most on the backend is Siegenthaler. He surprised me the most in a very good way. He is so steady, he's so steady. He kind of reminds me of an Andy Greene-type player that's so smart with his stick. And he will be very good for us for a while."