Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday. Sign up for our free newsletter.

It’s a bit hard to swallow when even the rebuilding process is underwhelming, but that was always going to be the case for the Vancouver Canucks as they head into a rebuild (well, hopefully) after trading captain Quinn Hughes earlier this season. 

Kiefer Sherwood was always going to be the next domino to fall, as the forward is set to hit unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. Even before this Canucks’ campaign turned into a dumpster fire, it was unlikely that Sherwood would remain a Canuck, as he was far outperforming his current $1.5-million cap hit, scoring 17 goals in 44 games to go on top of 40 points in 78 games last year. 

Sherwood, who was undrafted, became a clear fan favourite in his two years with the Canucks, standing out as one of the only feel-good stories to emerge from a couple of seasons that could be charitably characterized as “gloomy”. Before the Canucks signed him to a bargain bin contract, Sherwood was essentially a replaceable bottom-six winger for the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, and Nashville Predators. 

On the Canucks, he became a one-man wrecking crew that set the NHL’s all-time record in hits last year and also scored timely and sometimes shockingly beautiful goals both this season and last. 

Video of Canucks’ Kiefer Sherwood Pulls Off Nasty Toe-Drag Move And Pots Beauty Goal

So yes, he was going to get paid. And as the Canucks’ season went off the rails, it became increasingly obvious that trading the soon-to-be 31-year-old was the best course of action. 

That doesn’t mean it’s ever easy to part with players that clearly gave a crap about the team and the city. (Especially when it feels like there are players on the team that just don’t.)

Sherwood could never be accused of that, as his effort night in and night out was always there. It’s hard not to wish for the best for him. 

Speaking of which, he may have gotten close to a best-case scenario here. After many rumours and leaks that the Canucks wouldn’t be able to get the desired first-round pick in exchange for Sherwood, the winger landed with the San Jose Sharks in exchange for two second-round picks and AHL defenceman Cole Clayton. 

For San Jose, it makes a good amount of sense. Sherwood adds both some goal-scoring prowess and some sandpaper to a surprising Sharks team that could make the playoffs ahead of schedule. He feels like a pretty ideal running mate to either Macklin Celebrini or a second line featuring William Eklund. Both are young phenom types that Sherwood will likely be able to keep up with. 

Sherwood can also play up and down the lineup. And it’s ideal for Sherwood in that the Sharks have a lot of cap room and probably wouldn’t mind signing a 31-year-old winger who makes both the ice and the locker room better places to be to a contract that likely won’t age all that well given the wear and tear Sherwood puts himself through on a nightly basis.

For the Canucks, it’s a different question. Taken in a vacuum, yes, they recouped value for a player they signed for nothing. Getting two second-round picks from a Sharks team that’s projected to finish around the middle of the standings isn’t nothing. The Canucks are currently projected to have four picks in the top 50 of the NHL draft. That’s something that a rebuilding team should be happy about. 

Losing Sherwood is yet another blow to a fanbase that, at this point, has taken more than its share of lumps. The younger members of said fanbase are running out of players to cheer for. But this is in sacrifice of something bigger, of course. Whether the Canucks (and its owners in particular) can stick to this plan is another question entirely. 

Grade: B-

Two second-rounders for an unrestricted free agent who is going to sign a contract in the offseason that the Canucks were probably wise to avoid anyway is probably a win. Even if the talk of a first-round pick and a prospect as the return for Sherwood earlier in this process meant that expectations were raised. Does it suck to see a player like Sherwood leave? Of course. But there is going to be a lot more pain where that came from in the Canucks’ road back to respectability.