Vancouver Canucks Deal Kiefer Sherwood to San Jose Sharks

Sherwood had generated plenty of interest around the league as a pending unrestricted free agent enjoying the best season of his NHL career. His combination of physical play, secondary scoring, and a team-friendly cap hit made him a popular name on the market. While Vancouver was believed to be holding out for a first-round pick at one point, the eventual return suggests the price softened—and once it did, the transaction came together quickly.

At 30 years old, Sherwood has delivered strong results in Vancouver this season, producing 23 points in 44 games. He leads the Canucks in goals and sits near the top of the NHL leaderboard in hits, reinforcing his value as a hard-driving winger who can contribute at both ends of the ice. Overall, Sherwood has recorded 121 points across 309 career NHL games and has long been regarded as a reliable depth scorer with edge.

Trade Details

To San Jose:
F Kiefer Sherwood

To Vancouver:
2026 second-round pick (San Jose)
2027 second-round pick (San Jose)
D Cole Clayton

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin acknowledged Sherwood’s impact while explaining the decision to move him.

“We’re grateful for everything Kiefer brought to our organization,” Allvin said. “He earned an opportunity to grow his game here, and we’re proud of the progress he made. Given where we are in our long-term plan, this move allows us to add valuable draft capital and a young defenseman who strengthens our depth moving forward.”

Clayton, 25, is expected to report to Abbotsford. The right-shot defenseman has spent most of the season with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, appearing in 33 games and recording five points along with 21 penalty minutes. Standing 6-foot-2, Clayton has logged 257 AHL games over five seasons between San Jose and Cleveland, bringing experience and organizational depth to Vancouver’s blue line.

As the Canucks continue reshaping their roster, this deal adds future assets while clearing the way for the next phase of their rebuild.