October 14, 2025 | 12:32pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANUCKS, SHERWOOD YET TO TALK CONTRACT

Kiefer Sherwood, forward

Kiefer Sherwood elevated his game last season during his first season with the Vancouver Canucks, putting up career-highs in goals (19), assists (21) and points (41).

With three goals in as many games for the Canucks to kickstart the 2025-26 campaign, the 30-year-old is on track for another solid season, this time in a contract year.

The Canucks have not yet started contract negotiations with Sherwood’s camp on an extension, as reported by TFP’s David Pagnotta in last week’s DFO Rundown Insider Edition episode with Irfaan Gaffar.

Sherwood is in the final season of a two-year, $3 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

“The Canucks really liked what he did last season for them. His role and responsibilities have increased,” Pagnotta said.

“They haven’t really gotten to the nitty-gritty of negotiations just yet. I think there’s a little bit of worry that if he replicates what he did last season, or comes close to it or surpasses it, it’s gonna cost them too much. He’s at $1.5 million (AAV). If he puts up those numbers again, he’s at least doubling (his annual salary), and I think that’s a little bit of a concern from the Canuck side of things.”

Pagnotta added today that negotiations have still not yet commenced and suggested the Canucks may wait to see how their season goes before committing.

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“There have been some conversations. Yeah, they're talking, but there’s a difference between talking and there’s a difference between negotiating and they’re not at that second stage yet,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pagnotta and Gaffar both acknowledged that the Canucks have explored the trade market for a mid-six forward, but a move is not believed to be imminent.

“When (Nils) Hoglander went out (with injury), there were a few teams that reached out to Canucks to say ‘do you wanna replace him; we’ve got this piece, here take this piece and give us a third-round pick and call it a day,’ and those pieces weren’t really desirable, which is why the Canucks held off,” Pagnotta said.