Canucks trade rumours: Rangers reportedly pursuing Kiefer Sherwood

“They were in on star defenseman Quinn Hughes before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild last month, as The Athletic previously reported, and have been pushing hard for Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood, a league source said. The asking price is believed to be a first-round pick and possibly more for the 30-year-old who has netted 17 goals through 42 games and is in the final year of a modest contract that pays him $1.5 million annually. The acquisition cost is prohibitive for the Rangers, but team president Chris Drury’s focus has been on netting a top-nine forward to bolster an offense that ranks among the lowest-scoring in the NHL.”

Sherwood offers a potential solution to the Rangers’ season-long offensive drought. Currently sitting 27th in the NHL in goals scored (116), the Rangers are in need of adding a goal-scoring winger of Sherwood’s calibre to bolster their top-nine offence. Sherwood’s 17 goals this season currently lead the Canucks, but would also lead the Rangers, narrowly edging out Artemi Panarin with 16 goals.

The report comes at an interesting time for Sherwood and the Canucks, who have recently been reported to have offered him a four- or five-year deal in the neighbourhood of $4 million AAV.

If the Canucks do decide to part ways with Sherwood, it is believed that any trade package would begin with a first-round pick. Holding both their own and the Carolina Hurricanes’ first-round pick – acquired in the K’Andre Miller trade earlier this summer – the Rangers could meet that asking price.

In a tight race, the Rangers currently sit third last in the Eastern Conference, yet just three points out of the final Wild Card spot. It is worth noting that the Rangers suffered two massive blows recently, as defenceman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin were placed on long-term injured reserve and injured reserve, respectively, following a 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday.

As the NHL schedule eclipses the halfway point, Sherwood’s future will remain one of Vancouver’s most closely watched storylines leading up to the trade deadline.