Kiefer Sherwood has quickly gone from depth winger to one of the Vancouver Canucks’ most valuable players – and that success creates a contract dilemma the team will have to deal with. Following his two goals against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night, several analysts have taken a closer look at what Sherwood is worth to the Canucks. The answer is a lot, but the question remains: how much are they willing to pay to keep him?
After scoring three times, including the overtime winner against Edmonton (just one goal away), Sherwood now has six goals in ten games, just two shy of the NHL lead. He has been a force on both ends of the ice – physical, ruthless and tenacious – and his energy has made him a fan favorite. Fans chanted his name during Sunday’s game, and he said after the win“It’s a fun atmosphere to rock.” But with his shooting percentage hovering above 30%, the question now is how much the Canucks should pay, and for how long.
Vancouver reportedly got in touch with Sherwood’s camp over the summer, but talks never materialized. The 30-year-old winger recently changed agents, insiders report like Rick Dhaliwalnegotiations remain calm. Any deal made now will cost more than it did months ago.
There is speculation that Sherwood’s next contract could be around $4 million per year over four seasons, a significant commitment for a player who has never scored 20 goals in an NHL season. Management appreciates his level of competition and leadership, but tenure and age are real concerns.
Quinn Hughes reportedly loves Kiefer Sherwood
As one analyst put it, Sherwood “feels like one of those guys you win with” – a player who sets the tone in the locker room and delivers every night. That makes him invaluable in a market like Vancouver, where fans and teammates want and need those types of players. Specifically, Quinn Hughes was reportedly a big proponent of signing Sherwood when the Canucks did so in free agency.
Maybe Sherwood is the kind of player the Canucks can use to get Hughes to stay. Whether it’s agreeing to re-sign Sherwood at a good rate if Hughes stays, or convincing Hughes to take a little less so the Canucks can pay Sherwood a little more, there could be something going on here.
For now, the team seems content with a wait-and-see approach, but with every goal Sherwood scores, that decision becomes more expensive.
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