Canucks Rumors: Sherwood Trade To Happen Sooner Than Later

Kiefer Sherwood is a piece that is inevitably going to be traded. With where the Vancouver Canucks are in the standings, plus following the trade of Quinn Hughes, they have to build a better all-around team going into next season and get as many assets as possible before that time.

Sherwood is a highly sought-after forward that teams think they can sign if acquired. This will only boost the price of Sherwood, which bodes well for the Canucks. There are plenty of teams rumored to be in the mix, from true Stanley Cup contenders, to playoff teams, to fringe teams, all because of the prospect of signing an energy hitter who can score for a number of years at a fair price.

David Pagnotta said, "I asked a couple of people...is the timeline closer to Olympic break or can we see something at some point in January. Both messages I got were don't be surprised if something happens sooner than later."

Sherwood has turned himself into a very valuable player to have and a strong top-9 forward that can go up and down the lineup. His ice time has increased by 2.5 minutes from last season and he plays two minutes on the power play and penalty kill per game.

His cap hit this season is amazing at just $1.5 million AAV, but he is reported to want an AAV above $4.5 for his next contract, which is fair considering the work he's done this season and last and with the cap rising significantly moving forward. Sherwood broke out offensively for 19 goals and 40 points in 78 games last season with an NHL record of 462 hits. This season he has taken the goal-scoring even further and already has 17 goals to go along with 21 points in 40 games. His hitting is a tad down at 189, but that is still good for second in the league and he can jump to first in a couple of games.

If something happens sooner than later with Sherwood, expect it to be a team willing to make the early move like the Minnesota Wild were in acquiring Hughes. Sherwood is going to be a big piece for a contender, whether they'll more easily get into the playoffs or are fighting for their playoff berth.