The San Jose Sharks signed Kiefer Sherwood to a long-term contract extension on Wednesday. The contract comes at $5.75 million annual average value for the next five years. This is a huge raise from his current $1.5 million cap hit, but his excellent numbers throughout the last couple of seasons indicate that a raise was warranted.

Kiefer Sherwood is staying in San Jose. 👊

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 4, 2026

 

San Jose Sharks Willing to Pay for Sherwood

The Sharks are retaining a very hard-working, gritty forward’s services. During his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks, he set the NHL record for hits in a season with 460. He forechecks hard and never gives up on puck battles. In his time in Vancouver, he scored 36 goals and recorded 27 assists for 63 points in 122 games. He recorded his career-high in goals with 19 in the 2024-25 season with Vancouver. Sherwood was traded by Vancouver to San Jose on January 19th, 2026, in exchange for Cole Clayton and two second-round picks. “The ingredients he brings to our line-up on a nightly basis blend extremely well with the skillsets of his teammates and we look forward to his contributions in the years to come,” General manager Mike Grier said.

Sherwood’s extension is a hefty one, and he is 30 years old, currently. This contract will expire when he is 36 years old, and the Sharks run the risk of his play declining. As he is a depth forward on any contending team, it is possible that his play would regress back to the mean, scoring-wise. But last year he scored 19 goals, off a 13.5 shooting percentage, and this year it is 18 off 14.2%. So, he had been trending upward for some time. His contract includes a no-trade clause in 2026-27, followed by a modified no-trade clause. However, for the here and now, Sherwood is an excellent depth piece, with his high work ethic and lethal shot. He has been a role model and leader, setting the standard for hard work. As the San Jose Sharks are leaving their rebuild behind, Sherwood could provide the energy they need for a playoff push.

Main Photo Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images