Canucks’ Leading Goal Scorer a Target for Oilers Over Former Star?

Some fans believe that Evander Kane could wind up back in Edmonton. The forward did agree to a trade that sent him to the Vancouver Canucks this summer, but he loves Edmonton as a city and is a pending UFA next season. The Oilers moved Kane because of his contract, so if he were to agree to come back at a lesser price, it’s not completely wild to assume the Oilers might take a look.

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However, one source close to the team thinks Edmonton would prefer to take a run at Kiefer Sherwood than try to find a way to bring Kane back. During a conversation with former NHL GM and executive Brian Burke, Stauffer explained:

“If Vancouver is out of it, or theoretically LA is out of it, would Edmonton look at potentially bringing back Evander Kane and Corey Perry. I said there’s a player I like more in Vancouver that’s a UFA that’s really inexpensive, and that’s Kiefer Sherwood. He’s a 1.5 million dollar cap hit, had about 400 hits and 19 goals last season. He’s got six goals this year. He can kill penalties, he’s fast, he’s aggressive, oh by the way, is 1.5 million.”

Stauffer told Brian Burke, “So only under the premise of if the Canucks were theoretically to fall out of it, my guess is Brian, at that price point, with what he brings, the juice that he brings and the aggressiveness he plays for…Every good team in the league would want at him.”

Burke did like Sherwood as a player, but cautioned Stauffer not to get too excited about the hit count. Hits are great, but what do they really mean if the player doesn’t scare anyone? Burke suggested the Oilers (and other teams) should remember that when pitching Sherwood in free agency.

Sherwood Scores a Hat Trick on Thursday vs Blues

“What a week for Kiefer Sherwood,” Canucks analyst Rick Dhaliwal said. “Four goals, one called back — if you’re going to pop off, might as well do it in a contract year.” This was before Sherwood scored his third goal on Thursday, giving him nine on the season.

Sherwood has exploded out of the gate this season, tied for the lead in NHL in scoring while ranking second in hits (54). He’s become a driving force for the Canucks, accounting for an incredible 28 percent of their team’s goals (32 total). His hat trick performance against the St. Louis Blues showcased his full game — three goals, five shots, four hits, and 24:12 of ice time, the most among Vancouver forwards, along with a dominant 63.9 expected goals percentage.

It’s not just the production that’s turning heads — it’s the way Sherwood plays. The 29-year-old winger has always stood out for his relentlessness and edge, bringing an all-energy, something a struggling Oilers could really use right now. Edmonton feels like a team that has lost its identity. Sherwood is a player who exudes it.

When asked about potential trade targets for the Oilers later this season, Stauffer didn’t dismiss familiar names like Evander Kane (if Vancouver were to move on) or Corey Perry (if the Kings fall out of contention). But he hinted that Sherwood might be the player Edmonton has its eye on most.

For a team still searching for more secondary scoring and physicality in its middle six, Sherwood’s blend of speed, grit, and goal-scoring touch could be a perfect match — if the Canucks ever consider moving him.

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