After Quinn Hughes moved to Minnesota for three players and a draft pick, it’s pretty clear that the Vancouver Canucks are in selling mode. One player who keeps popping up in trade rumors is Kiefer Sherwood. He’s 30, has a $1.5 million cap hit and is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) without trade protection, meaning Vancouver can move him freely.
While there was some talk of offering Sherwood an extension, the reality is that the proposed last-ditch throw to Sherwood did not generate any genuine interest from the player. The Canucks could get a better return by trading him now, especially if a team is willing to pay a premium for a player with immediate playoff eligibility.
Friedman reports that the Canucks didn’t get much of a response from Sherwood
In the most recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman noted”People are way too concerned with language. Don’t get caught up in semantics.”
He explained that a number of people were concerned about his report that the Canucks had made Sherwood an offer, saying that was not true. He said, “…my phone is buzzing with messages saying, ‘You got the story wrong Saturday night. There was no offer to Sherwood.'” He clapped back with, “Stop that. Don’t get caught up in the language. They talked. They went back and forth. They threw out some numbers. Like I said, it wasn’t in the area where it would solve anything, but it wasn’t offensive either. They didn’t offer him minimum wage or anything like that.”
Friedman added:
“If you don’t like the word ‘offer’, that’s fine, they threw out a few numbers. They weren’t where Sherwood sees the market, but it wasn’t an insult. Vancouver actually asked, ‘Can we possibly get it for a little less than market value?’ It didn’t work. That’s why I said there is a significant gap.”
The NHL insider couldn’t understand why people were panicking, saying, “I can’t believe they made him an offer — I thought they were rebuilding.” He noted that the Canucks were just trying to see if they could get Sherwood on a good deal. “I don’t even know if they really thought it would happen.”
Sherwood is cap friendly and ready to play
Sherwood’s contract makes a potential trade easy for a contending team. His $1.5 million cap hit isn’t prohibitive, and any acquiring club wouldn’t have to take his salary elsewhere to make it work. That’s a huge selling point in today’s tight market environment.
Besides the money side, Sherwood is the kind of guy the playoff team loves. He fits right into the middle six, brings energy, can score and still fulfills his defensive duties. He hits, fights along the boards and can be counted on in all kinds of situations; all qualities that become even more valuable in the play-offs.
Sherwood launches a surprising offensive
Sherwood produces on the ice, not just in the corners. His offensive numbers are solid, and history shows that guys like him can level up in the postseason. He could be ideal for a team looking for extra scoring without disrupting the current squad. In some ways, he has the same heart for the struggles that former Canucks captain Bo Horvat had during his time with Vancouver.
The asking price for Sherwood could start as high as a first-round pick, with some teams potentially having to sweeten the deal on a prospect if a sign-and-trade extension is on the table. Given Vancouver’s position, there is a chance that more clubs will enter the mix, increasing its value.
When can we expect the Canucks to trade Sherwood?
For Vancouver, Sherwood is an easy choice if they move pieces. It would be attractive because it is cheap enough. It is fully movable. In fact, he’s ready for the playoffs because he’s so reliable both offensively and defensively.
He would be a perfect trade target for a Cup contender or a team looking to add depth. While the Canucks would likely want to keep him, his return could be high enough that trading him makes sense. Sad for fans; is right for the organization.
Friedman explained, “I don’t know where this is going. A few people asked me on Sunday, ‘When do you think he’ll get treatment since this hasn’t worked out?’ I honestly don’t know. I don’t have a good sense of the timeline.”
He added:
“There’s definitely been more noise around him in the last few days. Now everyone’s in Minnesota for the World Juniors — GMs, scouts — and people are talking. Some are saying, ‘If they’re not going to sign Sherwood, maybe they’ll deal him while everyone’s here.’ I don’t know. It’s hard to figure out the timeline. Don’t get carried away by the language. They talked, they shot, but it didn’t bridge the gap. We’ll see where it goes.”
Related: The Canucks’ leading scorer now plays for the Maple Leafs
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