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The Canucks acquire right-shot defenceman Cole Clayton and second-round selections in both the 2026 and 2027 NHL Draft
Published Jan 19, 2026 • Last updated 39 minutes ago • 8 minute read
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Vancouver Canucks have traded Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks. Photo by Derik Hamilton /APArticle content
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For Canucks fans of a certain age — yes, the old ones — an 11-game winless streak is familiar. Those who lived through the days of 8,000 people at the Pacific Coliseum to see Pit Martin and Sheldon Kannegeiser or Neil Belland and Moe Lemay or even the sparkling era of Harry York and Josh Holden know this franchise has had its dips.
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Yet, this season isn’t probably one that longtime fans would associate with those moribund eras. A team that started the season with Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko should not be this bad.
The New York Islanders are in town tonight trying to serve the Canucks their 11th loss in a row. The last game the Canucks won in regulation was way back on Dec. 19, a whole month ago, against the Islanders. In today’s NHL, the possibility exists of any team beating another on any given day. But you have to wonder when the Canucks next win is going to come.
They’re one game into an eight-game homestand, and should they fail against the Islanders, they have Washington up next. There isn’t a team in the NHL at the moment where you’d like the Canucks chances. Ben Kuzma explores the week ahead for the Canucks in his weekly look at the schedule:
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Kiefer Sherwood is traded to the Sharks
It was bound to happen.
Feisty Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood, 30, was being pursued by a number of NHL trade suitors for the manner in which he led the Canucks in goals (17), hits (210) and penalty-kill presence. The Canucks knew that and were waiting for the right time to strike a deal for the pending unrestricted free agent.
It came Monday morning when they reached agreeable terms with the San Jose Sharks.
The Canucks, who had been seeking a first-round pick, acquired Cole Clayton and second-round selections in both the 2026 and 2027 drafts.
As much as Sherwood knew this day was coming, the reality of it all was sudden.
“I was caught a little off-guard,” admitted Sherwood, who was rehabbing his injury Monday morning. “I was bag skating and got off the ice and then I was told. I’m really thankful for everything this city and this organization has given me.”
Sherwood: ‘A special place to play’
“I know they say you’ve got to earn it, but you’ve got to have the opportunity as a guy who has been a late bloomer.” he stressed. “It’s everything I could have hoped for and more and really a special place to play. That’s the hardest part at times about the business, you get attached to a place that really lives and breathes hockey.
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“That’s why that passion has been a mutual respect and admiration.”
Sherwood was always admired for how he evolved from an undrafted and undaunted force to becoming a culture carrier and willingly dragging the Canucks into the fight every night. And combined with a drive to be stronger in battles, stride, working on his shot, and staying out of the box was beyond commendable.
“I wish the organization the best, and no matter what people feel, it’s going to benefit from this with the picks (and player). I wanted nothing more here than to make the playoffs. A special time for any city but it’s different here. Hopefully, it’s sooner than later and you’ve just got to trust the process.”
Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin praised Sherwood for his commitment t.
“We would like to thank Kiefer for all his hard work and dedication in Vancouver,” Allvin said in a statement. “As an organization, we take a lot of pride in giving him the opportunity to grow and excel as a player.
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“Given where things currently stand and the direction of our rebuild, we felt it was necessary to make a move like this as we continue to build our pipeline. In addition to adding two draft picks, Cole is a right-shot defenceman who will report to Abbotsford.”
Clayton, 25, has appeared in 33 AHL games with the San Jose Barracuda this season, recording five points (2-3) and 21 penalty minutes. In 257 career games, across five seasons and split between the Barracuda and the Cleveland Monsters, the 6-foot-2, 200 pound right-shot defenceman has recorded 66 points (14-52) and 162 penalty minutes. The Strathmore, Alta. native has also played in 14 Calder Cup playoff games, accumulating a goal, a +2 plus/minus rating, and 12 penalty minutes.
Before turning pro, Clayton spent four seasons with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, leading all WHL defencemen in goals (9) and points (30) in the 2020.21 season.
Clayton was originally signed by the Sharks as an undrafted free agent on July 1, 2025.
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The additional picks provide Vancouver with a total of seven selections in the 2026 draft and eight selections in the 2027 draft.
Will the Canucks snap 10-game slide?
The Vancouver Canucks have given up more than six the goals they coughed up in the second period Saturday in a 6-0 pummelling by the Edmonton Oilers. And the NHL’s last place team has dug a deeper hole than its current 10-straight setbacks in franchise history.
It led to a post-game rallying point where head coach Adam Foote tried to prop up his club — especially young promising defencemen Tom Willander, 20, Zeev Buium, 20, Elias Pettersson, 21, Victor Mancini, 23, — to help endure the performance and psychological pains Saturday of adjusting to the pace and positioning in a game played at a frenetic pace.
Foote dialed it back to when he had misstep moments as an NHL defenceman. Long before he won two Stanley Cup titles, there were struggles and self-doubt before becoming a reliable and rugged stalwart who logged 1,154 career games.
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“I’ve been there and there were times where I made three mistakes in a game as a 15-year vet and you just want to go home,” he admitted. “These young guys can play. It’s just a lot at once and it’s not all on them in some situations. And it’s looked on more harshly because of our situation and there’s not a lot of room for error.
“We have to keep teaching and supporting these guys and build confidence to survive situations and grow from this. It stings but it helps you grow the fastest. This is hard right now. It’s about pride.”
The Canucks, sadly, have become a punchline. They’re so bad they’re the joke in every quip offered by a national media member.
This week, it was the New York Rangers, doing what they do best: Writing open letters to their fans about how bad they are.
Most interesting passages from the Rangers’ letter:
“Chris Drury, President and General Manager” — Maybe the most meaningful portion of the letter came at the very end, in the signature: This next phase is indeed going to be Chris Drury’s project. That’s not a surprise, since all evidence had suggested Drury has the backing of ownership. But for any Rangers fans hoping that a front office shakeup would be part of any teardown, this letter would appear to nip that in the bud.
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“We will target players that bring tenacity, skill, speed and a winning pedigree” — So … good players? You’ve just described good players. I don’t think there are too many teams out there whose current game plan involves actively targeting weak, slow losers. OK, maybe the Canucks, but nobody else.
“Weak, slow losers” is quite a shot.
As Foote said in Ben’s story though, this is starting to be about pride. Can this group summon enough to get a win? To get more than a win? To get on a roll?
What is curious though about the Canucks plight is the aforementioned Rangers have issued their own Jim Rutherford-esque fire sale edit now. The Canucks have competition for teams looking to pluck useful players for a playoff run. The Athletic’s trade board has plenty of Canucks content, with Kiefer Sherwood at second position and Elias Pettersson at seventh.
Elias Pettersson
Age: 27
Contract term: 2032 UFA
Current cap hit: $11,600,000
Pettersson has played at a higher level than last season, when his name first circulated in trade rumours, but he remains a long way removed from the performer he was when Vancouver signed him to a $92.8 million, eight-year extension in March 2024. That obviously impacts his trade value. However, the fact that Pettersson has previously been an elite offensive play-driver makes him an enticing proposition for some, especially since the price tag to land him shouldn’t be too steep. The biggest concern for the Canucks in considering a Pettersson trade is the fact that he may blossom again in a new environment.
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The Canucks have given up at least four goals in seven of their last eight games. In that span, they’ve been shut out twice and themselves have only scored more than one goal twice. In eight games. It’s grim reading. You have to feel sorry for the communications team who try to be positive in social media posts or putting together game notes.
Tonight marks the second and final meeting between the Canucks and Islanders this season: Dec. 19 (road, 4-1 W) and Jan. 19 (home).
Vancouver is 51-56-13-3 all-time against New York, including a 29-28-3-1 record at home
The Canucks are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games against the Islanders (4-1-0 in their last five).
Evander Kane leads all active Canucks skaters in scoring against New York with 14 points (6-8-14) in 32 career games.
In 26 career games against the Islanders, Jake DeBrusk has 13 points (7-6-13).
Tyler Myers has 12 points (7-5-12) in 31 career games against New York.
In 13 career games against the Islanders, Brock Boeser has 10 points (2-8-10).
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Kevin Lankinen is 1-2-0 with a 2.06 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage in three career games against New York.
Nikita Tolopilo has yet to face the Islanders in his career.
QUICK NUMBERS
Zeev Buium ranks 3rd among rookie defencemen in assists (15) and fourth in points (19).
Drew O’Connor ranks t-7th in the NHL in short-handed goals this season (2).
Filip Hronek has seven points (2-5-7) in his last five games against the Islanders.
What on earth do you highlight? Something like, “the Canucks have only given up six goals in two of their last four games!” It’s a truly thankless job.
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Check back for more Canucks news throughout the day …
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