Kiefer Sherwood excels at the game within the game.
The hard-driving, hard hitting Vancouver Canucks right-winger has become a culture carrier for the manner in which he gets under the opposition skin, and contributes offensively and defensively.
He’s coming off an impressive career year with an NHL-record 462 hits, and 19 goals, including his first career hat trick. He was also third among club forwards in penalty-kill time on the league’s third-ranked unit, and a zest to be his best has never wavered.
What is all that worth? Good question.
Sherwood, 30, has a year left on his contract at a bargain US$1.5 million and a fair contract extension seems like a manner of when and not if. However, the negotiating dance can be difficult with purposeful pivots before management and player representatives find a common stride.
It’s why he switched agents in late August after earlier summer rumblings of a possible extension went quiet. Sherwood left Allain Roy of Roy Sports Group and hired Rich Evans and Judd Moldaver of Wasserman Hockey to push the contract process.
Seattle Kraken left wing Jaden Schwartz (17) skates with the puck behind the goal with Vancouver Canucks left wing Kiefer Sherwood (44) behind during the third period of a preseason NHL hockey game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Seattle.
Dakota Joshua was subject to that dance after a career 2023-24 season. The former Canucks winger put up 18 goals and 32 points in 63 regular-season games and added eight points in 13 playoff outings. For all that, he had to wait and play the game before landing a four-year, US$13 million extension on June 27.
“Dakota came in here and was highly recommended by my staff and we’ve seen him over the two years take steps,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said during his year-end address on May 23, 2024. “We’ll find the next Dakota Joshua here for the coaches to work with and I’m confident in my staff to find the right personnel to be successful.”
Wait. What?
It was an obvious tactical ploy, and perhaps a shot across the bow, to ensure Joshua’s camp didn’t swing for the fences in contract talks.
Fast-forward and Allvin’s ask of Sherwood this season is building on what he accomplished last season and being present every night.
“For Kiefer, it’s the consistency,” Allvin said Tuesday. “Learning to play with structure and playing a two-way game. We know his tenacity, speed, pace, physicality and shot were really good last year. We’re excited to see him take another step this year.
“We like Kiefer a lot and he fits in with the group, but there’s no rush. We continue to talk. I have a fairly good relationship with most of the agents, so nothing is really going to change here.”
That’s all fine and good, but Sherwood isn’t so sure about the consistency comment.
“You’ve got to be consistent when you lead the league in hits,” Sherwood responded after practice Tuesday. “That’s one of my goals and it’s not going to change to lead again. It’s also playing the right way and bringing value by creating time and space for my line.”
Sherwood isn’t consumed by his contract situation because he’s done the tough stuff to earn an NHL living. His expiring two-year deal comes after a series of one-year commitments at the NHL minimum to prove his worth. He hasn’t had the luxury to be satisfied whether playing for Anaheim, Colorado, Nashville or Vancouver.
“I’ve been scrapping for it my who life,” stressed Sherwood. “That’s easy to figure out. I love it here, my teammates and the market. I think we can build something special and kind of shock people this year. We have a lot of stuff that’s quietly brewing with positivity in our identity as a team.
“There’s a fresh energy for us to take that next step. When you watch your competitors on TV in the playoffs, it kind of eats at you and (ticks) you off a little bit. That’s something we’re not going to let happen again.”
Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood celebrates after scoring against the Colorado Avalanche on April 10 in Denver.
Sherwood was a third-line staple last season, but his elevated play earned time on the top line with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. His contributions on the penalty kill were of equal value, and with top-pairing regular Pius Suter bolting to St. Louis in free agency, opportunity to play with Teddy Blueger in a prime PK role is another driving point.
“It’s an extension of last year and I’ve really focused on my skating with my coach back in Columbus and just fine-tune the details and committing more time in the weight room,” added Sherwood, “It’s just playing my game and to my identity. The PK is a big part of it with what I and the team needs.
“It was a good stepping-stone but there’s room in my game to take it to the next level offensively and defensively. Just putting it all together.”
It should be seamless with Adam Foote, who ran the PK, now running the bench as a rookie NHL head coach.
“He has a good feeling for the pulse of our team and the dynamics that guys have to bring,” noted Sherwood. “He knows what it takes to win. Won a couple of (Stanley) Cups (Colorado) and was captain. He’s a hard-nosed leader who is going to set the tone for us.”