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New Twist in Contract and Trade Talks Involving Canucks’ Kiefer Sherwood
Kiefer Sherwood could be Vancouver’s next trade piece, and his story took an odd contract offer turn this week.
After moving Quinn Hughes to Minnesota for three players and a draft pick, it’s pretty clear the Vancouver Canucks are in sell mode. One player that keeps coming up in trade rumours is Kiefer Sherwood. He’s 30, has a $1.5 million cap hit, and is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) with no trade protection — meaning Vancouver can move him freely.
While there was some talk of offering Sherwood an extension, the reality is the proposed last-ditch pitch to Sherwood produced no genuine interest from the player. The Canucks might get more return by trading him now, especially if a team is willing to pay a premium for a player who can slot immediately into a playoff lineup.
Friedman Reports That The Canucks Didn’t Get Much Response From Sherwood
On the most recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman noted, “People get way too hung up on language. Don’t get caught up in the semantics.”
He explained that a bunch of people got worked up over his report that the Canucks made an offer to Sherwood, saying that wasn’t true. He said, “…my phone’s buzzing with messages saying, ‘You got the story wrong Saturday night. There was no offer to Sherwood.’” He clapped back with, “Shut up with that. Don’t get caught in the language. They talked. They went back and forth. They threw some numbers out there. Like I said, it wasn’t in the area where it was going to solve anything, but it also wasn’t insulting. They didn’t offer him minimum wage or anything like that.”
Friedman added:
“If you don’t like the word ‘offer,’ then fine — they threw out some numbers. They weren’t where Sherwood sees the market, but it wasn’t an insult. Vancouver was basically asking, ‘Can we get him for maybe a little less than market value?’ It didn’t work. That’s why I said there’s a sizable gap.”
The NHL insider couldn’t understand why people are freaking out, saying, ‘I can’t believe they made him an offer — I thought they were rebuilding.’ He noted the Canucks were simply seeing if they could get Sherwood on a good deal. “I don’t even know if they really thought it was going to happen.”
Sherwood Comes Cap-Friendly and Ready to Play
Sherwood’s contract makes a potential trade easy for a contending team. His $1.5 million cap hit isn’t prohibitive, and any acquiring club wouldn’t need to move salary elsewhere to make it work. That’s a huge selling point in today’s tight cap environment.
On top of the money side of things, Sherwood’s the kind of guy a playoff team loves. He fits right into the middle-six, brings energy, can score, and still takes care of his defensive duties. He hits, battles along the boards, and can be relied on in a variety of situations — all qualities that grow even more valuable in the playoffs.
Sherwood Brings a Surprising Offensive Upside
Sherwood produces on the ice, not just in the corners. His offensive numbers are solid, and history shows guys like him can level up in the postseason. He could be ideal for a team looking for extra scoring without disrupting its current roster. In some ways, he has the same heart for the battle that former Canucks’ captain Bo Horvat used to bring in his time with Vancouver.
The asking price for Sherwood could start as high as a first-round pick, with some teams potentially needing to sweeten the deal with a prospect if a sign-and-trade extension is on the table. Given Vancouver’s position, there’s a chance multiple clubs could enter the mix, driving up his value.
When to Expect the Canucks to Trade Sherwood
For Vancouver, Sherwood’s an easy choice if they’re moving pieces. He would be attractive because he’s cheap enough. He’s completely movable. Even better, he’s ready for the playoffs because he’s so reliable offensively and defensively.
He’d be a perfect trade target for a Cup contender or a team looking to add depth. While the Canucks would probably like to keep him, his return could be so high that trading him makes sense. Sad for fans; true for the organization.
Friedman explained, “I don’t know where this is going. A couple of people asked me Sunday, ‘When do you think he’s going to get dealt since this didn’t work out?’ I honestly don’t know. I don’t have a good feel for the timeline.”
He added:
“There was definitely increased noise around him over the last few days. Now everyone’s in Minnesota for the World Juniors — GMs, scouts — and people are talking. Some are saying, ‘If they’re not going to sign Sherwood, maybe they deal him while everyone’s here.’ I don’t know. It’s hard to figure out the timeline. Don’t get caught up in the language. They talked, they took a shot, it didn’t bridge the gap. We’ll see where it goes.”
Related: The Canucks’ Top Scorer Now Plays for the Maple Leafs
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