Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood has been one of the best stories of the early season, posting 12 goals and 16 points in 22 games.
Sherwood’s breakout has come after he showed promise with career-high 19 goals and 40 points in 78 games last season in the first of a two-year, $3 million deal with the Canucks.
He is pending unrestricted free agent with a $1.5 million cap hit and, while his value appears to be rising, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports it’s unclear if Sherwood’s future remains in Vancouver.
“There’s an amicable back and forth between the Vancouver Canucks and his agent, Judd Moldaver,” Dreger explained Thursday on Insider Trading.
“You’re talking about a 30-year-old who’s had a great first quarter; he’s got 12 goals to this point. The problem in Vancouver is the depth they have on the wing. Of course, there’s going to be contract discussions and negotiations, but there’s no guarantee they’re going to extend this guy because of what I just said.
“He could become legit trade fodder for the Vancouver Canucks, but that’ll happen closer to the trade deadline.”
Sherwood, who extended his points streak to three games in Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, is averaging 17:44 of ice time this season. He has never previously averaged more than 15 minutes per game in a season.
Undrafted out of the University of Miami (Ohio), Sherwood made his NHL debut with the Anaheim Ducks in 2018-19. He spent his first full season in the NHL with the Nashville Predators in 2023-24 before joining Vancouver. In 287 career games, the late-bloomer has 55 goals and 114 points.
Whether Sherwood is eventually moved at the deadline will also likely be influenced by where the Canucks sit in the standings closer to March. The team is currently second-last in the Pacific Division, but just four points back of the Chicago Blackhawks for the final wild-card spot with two more games played.
Vancouver missed the playoffs last season for the fourth time in five years.