Could Kiefer Sherwood’s Contract Be the Key to Keeping Canucks Superstar?

Kiefer Sherwood has quickly gone from depth winger to one of the Vancouver Canucks’ most valuable players — and that success is creating a contract dilemma the team is going to have to navigate. Following his two goals against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night, several analysts have taken a closer look at what Sherwood is worth to the Canucks. The answer is a lot, but the question remains: how much are they willing to pay to retain him?

After scoring three times, including the overtime winner against Edmonton (but having one goal removed), Sherwood now has six goals in ten games, just two off the NHL lead. He’s been a force at both ends of the ice — physical, relentless, and clutch — and his energy has made him a fan favourite. Fans were chanting his name during the game Sunday, and he said after the win, “It’s a fun atmosphere to get rocking.” But with his shooting percentage hovering above 30%, the question now is how much the Canucks should pay, and for how long.

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Vancouver reportedly touched base with Sherwood’s camp over the summer, but talks never gained traction. The 30-year-old winger recently changed agents, and according to insiders like Rick Dhaliwal, negotiations remain quiet. Any deal now will cost more than it would have months ago.

Speculation is that Sherwood’s next contract could start around $4 million per year over four seasons, a significant commitment for a player who’s never topped 20 goals in an NHL season. Management likes his compete level and leadership, but term and age are real concerns.

Quinn Hughes Reportedly Loves Kiefer Sherwood

As one analyst put it, Sherwood “feels like one of those guys you win with” — a player who sets a tone in the locker room and delivers effort every night. That makes him invaluable in a market like Vancouver, where fans and teammates want and need that kind of player. Specifically, Quinn Hughes was reportedly a big advocate for signing Sherwood when the Canucks did in free agency.

Perhaps Sherwood is the kind of player the Canucks can use to get Hughes to stick around. Whether it’s agreeing to sign Sherwood again at a good rate if Hughes stays, or convincing Hughes to take a little less so the Canucks can pay Sherwood a little more, there could be something here.

For now, the team seems content to take a wait-and-see approach — but with every goal Sherwood scores, that decision gets more expensive.

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