{"id":416936,"date":"2026-01-20T01:03:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T01:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/416936\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T01:03:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T01:03:18","slug":"san-jose-sharks-acquire-kiefer-sherwood-from-vancouver-canucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/416936\/","title":{"rendered":"San Jose Sharks acquire Kiefer Sherwood\u00a0from Vancouver Canucks"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN JOSE \u2014\u202fIn playoff contention for the first time in years, the San Jose Sharks made a significant splash more than six weeks before the NHL trade deadline, acquiring forward Kiefer Sherwood<\/a> from the Vancouver Canucks for second-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027, and AHL defenseman Cole Clayton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sherwood, 30, had 23 points in 44 games<\/a> this season for Vancouver. He led the team in goals (17) and ranks second in the NHL in hits (210), and averaged 17:32 in ice time per game, fifth among all Canucks forwards.<\/p>\n

In his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and Canucks, Sherwood, a late bloomer, has 121 points in 309 career NHL games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was caught a little off-guard,\u201d Sherwood told reporters in Vancouver on Monday morning. \u201cI was bag skating and got off the ice, and then I was told. I\u2019m really thankful for everything this city and this organization have given me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sharks\u2019 acquisition of Sherwood, a pending unrestricted free agent, did not come with a contract extension. With his next deal, his salary cap hit is expected to rise significantly from $1.5 million to over $5 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Still, with a winning record, the Sharks (24-20-3) put themselves in a position<\/a> to add players before the March 6 trade deadline, rather than subtract as they had in recent years. They entered this week in a playoff spot after finishing with the NHL\u2019s worst record each of the last two seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir rebuild has probably happened quicker than they thought, and I know they have some special players coming up in their system,\u201d Sherwood said Monday as he reflected<\/a> on his year-and-a-half in Vancouver. \u201cSo it\u2019s pretty exciting, but I\u2019m just trying to be in the present right now and process everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to, obviously, the new start. But also just want to say how grateful I am here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sherwood, one of the NHL\u2019s top trade targets<\/a> before the deadline with Vancouver out of the playoff picture, is in the final year of a two-year, $3-million contract<\/a> he signed with the Canucks in July 2024. He has not played since Jan. 10 and is presently on injured reserve with an undisclosed ailment.<\/p>\n

The Sharks play in Vancouver on Jan. 27, but Sherwood said he wasn\u2019t sure if he would be available to play for San Jose before the Olympic break in early February, adding that he\u2019ll need to meet with the team\u2019s doctors before any timeline is established.<\/p>\n

When healthy, the 6-foot, 194-pound Sherwood, who had been rumored to be on the move for weeks, figures to bring a little bit of everything to the Sharks\u2019 lineup. Sherwood scored a career-best 19 goals last season and is thought of as a terrific skater with a high motor.<\/p>\n

Kiefer Sherwood isn\u2019t sure he\u2019ll play for Sharks before Olympic break. Shook hands with his left hand. Said he skated this morning, but needs to see Sharks doctors before any decision is made. So unlikely to play here on the 27th<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) January 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Sherwood was also one of the Canucks\u2019 leaders on both the power play and penalty kill. He led all Canucks in average shorthanded time on ice (2:05) this season and was sixth in average power play time per game (2:12). His 10 points this season with the man advantage were tied for third-most on the team.<\/p>\n

The undrafted Sherwood, a Columbus, Ohio native who played at Miami-Ohio from 2015-2018, paid his dues in the AHL before he became a full-time NHL player during the 2023-24 season with the Predators.<\/p>\n

Sherwood split time between the AHL and NHL from 2018 to 2023 \u2014 playing in 121 NHL games and 224 AHL games, including playoffs \u2014 across three different organizations. In 2022-23, Sherwood played with both the Predators and Milwaukee Admirals, where he was teammates with Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always say, I just put my work boots on every day,\u201d Sherwood said. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in the minors, I hope that it kind of opens up some pathways for other late blossomers one day, whether it\u2019s here or other places, because there are a lot of guys that are good players in the (AHL). They just sometimes need some time to figure it out and some opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clayton, who had five points in 33 games with the Barracuda<\/a>, will report to the Canucks\u2019 AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.<\/p>\n

The Sharks, before Monday\u2019s games, were the Western Conference\u2019s second wild-card team with 51 points, the same as the Seattle Kraken, the Ducks, and the Los Angeles Kings. The Predators are right behind with 50 points.<\/p>\n

The Sharks haven\u2019t made the playoffs since 2019, when they advanced to the Western Conference final before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.<\/p>\n

With the Sharks in the mix for a postseason berth, general manager Mike Grier, after years of trading players before the deadline for draft selections and prospects, dipped into his stockpile of picks to acquire a player who could be in San Jose only until the end of the regular season. The Sharks now have seven picks in this year\u2019s draft, including two first-rounders, and four in 2027.<\/p>\n

The second first-round selection the Sharks own for this year is a conditional pick acquired from the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Jake Walman. The selection is top-12 protected, so if it is in the top 12, the Oilers may choose to transfer their 2027 first-round selection to San Jose instead.<\/p>\n

Edmonton entered Monday in second place in the Pacific Division, and 10th in the NHL\u2019s overall standings, with a 25-17-8 record. Should the Oilers trade their 2027 first-round selection before this year\u2019s deadline, their 2026 first-round selection will transfer to San Jose unconditionally.<\/p>\n

Sherwood thanked Canucks management for getting the deal done now instead of closer to the trade deadline. Sherwood and his wife are expecting a baby girl in April, and the couple wants to be settled well before the arrival.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s everything I could have hoped for and more, and really a special place to play,\u201d said Sherwood, who signed as a free agent with the Canucks. \u201cThat\u2019s the hardest part at times about the business, you get attached to a place that really lives and breathes hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n

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