Surprising Development In Kiefer Sherwood Trade Talks

Kiefer Sherwood has been the big topic of conversation around the Vancouver Canucks, and on the trade market, for the past several weeks. One report this past week had a trade coming sooner than later—even in the next week or two. But insider Elliotte Friedman has let us in on a surprising development.

Sherwood is a pending UFA, and on pace to smash his career mark for goals. With only a $1.5 million cap hit, there are plenty of teams jockeying for position to try to nab him from the Canucks. But Friedman says, Vancouver isn't quite giving up on keeping Sherwood just yet:

The Canucks did make a new offer to Sherwood this week. I still think there's a sizeable gap here. I don't have a timeline for when anything is going to occur in terms of a trade or anything like that, but both sides did talk this week. I still think, however, there's a gap in terms of where Sherwood would like to be and what the Canucks are willing to do.

The rumors that had been circulating recently had Sherwood looking for a raise that would pretty much triple his salary, into the $4.5 million AAV range, over a multi-year deal. Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre wrote Sunday morning that the 30-year-old physical, two-way forward has a "strong case to make $4- or $5-million or more annually on his next contract," and that the Canucks' pricey long-term commitments to wingers Brock Boeser (7 yrs, $7.25M AAV) and Conor Garland (6 yrs, $6M AAV) would make it tough to fit Sherwood into their salary structure as well.   

With 17 goals in 41 games, Sherwood is on pace for 34 goals, which would blow away his career high of 19 set last season in his first year with Vancouver. He also set an NHL record with 462 hits.  He's already at 198 on the season this year, a pace that would bring him awfully close to the 400 mark once again.

Photo: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images