Former Battalion defenceman Kyle Wood will be back with the San Jose Sharks organization this coming season.
The San Jose Sharks signed him to a one-year contract on Friday. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Kyle's game as a reliable defenseman with offensive prowess has continued to progress since we acquired him last summer," said Doug Wilson, GM of the Sharks, in a release.
"He has proven to be a good skater and possesses a rare combination of size and skill on the blueline. We are excited to have him continue to contribute to our organization."
Wood, 23, played in 68 games for the San Jose Barracuda, the Sharks' (AHL) affiliate, where he registering 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) and a plus-16 rating last season.
Wood was tied for first in plus/minus rating, his 29 assists were tied for third, and he was ranked tied for fifth in points amongst all Barracuda skaters. Amongst fellow blueliners, Wood was second in both points and assists. He played in all four of the Barracuda's 2019 Calder Cup Playoff games, tallying one assist.
Prior to becoming a member of the Barracuda, Wood spent two seasons with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL), where he posted 62 points (17 goals, 45 assists) and 32 penalty minutes in 117 games.
In his first full AHL season in 2016-17, he recorded 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists) and was selected to the AHL All-Rookie Team and to the AHL All-Star Game, where he won the hardest shot competition. He led Tucson in power-play goals and all team defensemen in points, finishing third amongst all AHL rookie defensemen in points, tied for first in goals and fourth in assists.
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The six-foot-five, 235-pound blueliner was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round (84th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Wood was acquired by San Jose from Arizona on June 14, 2018.
Wood played parts of four seasons with the Battalion organization - the final three being in North Bay. He netted an OHL career-high 16 goals in 2014-15 and contributed eight goals and 31 assists for 39 points in 49 games in his final season with the Troops in 2015-16.
While the 23-year-old has played three seasons in the AHL, he has yet to play his first NHL game. That his something he hopes to change this year as he hopes to join his former Battalion teammate Barclay Goodrow with the Sharks.
