The Vancouver Canucks have been the subject of ongoing speculation regarding their plans to trade impending UFA Kiefer Sherwood. The chatter has revolved around the high price tag for the veteran winger.
But now, there’s another interesting plot twist. Insider David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period revealed the actual timeline for a Sherwood trade. During an appearance on DFO Rundown published on December 31, Pagnotta had this to say about when the Canucks could expect to move Sherwood:
“The Canucks don’t want to put themselves in a position where they overplay their hand in this one. Everybody knows what the price tag is… And the teams that were circling before, have reengaged, the Canucks have engaged in conversations. And, two messages I got literally before jumping on here… Don’t be surprised if something happens in the first half of January, so, over the next week or two, maybe even sooner.”
Pagnotta’s comments make sense. The chatter has been that this year’s unofficial trade deadline will come before the Olympic break. As such, the Canucks trading Sherwood during January would coincide with that assessment.
As such, the Canucks could be pulling the trigger within the next couple of weeks. Vancouver has already pretty much punted on the season. That’s why it makes sense that contenders looking to land Sherwood could be eager to get a deal complete as soon as possible.
Canucks Expecting a Significant Return for Sherwood
Another portion of the chatter surrounding this season has been the shortage of available players. Just about every contender is looking for a top-six forward. Teams like the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, LA Kings, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and Edmonton Oilers have all been part of the talk surrounding top-six forwards.
That situation has prompted the Canucks to slap a high price tag on Sherwood. As Pagnotta pointed out, the Canucks are looking for a first-round pick and a prospect. Also, a player of comparable value could work for Vancouver.
That’s not an easy price to stomach. Few contenders could afford that price tag. Since the Canucks are clearly rebuilding, they’ll want to get the best possible return. But as Pagnotta also pointed out, the Canucks don’t want to overplay their hand.
That situation means they’ll follow the same path they did with Quinn Hughes. The Canucks will look at the best offers on the table at this point and pull the trigger.
Vancouver May Only Be Warming Up
The Quinn Hughes trade could have been the opening salvo for the Canucks. The club could be just starting its retool/rebuild this year. Along with Sherwood, pretty much every impending UFA is on the block.
After Sherwood, the biggest name to keep an eye on will be Evander Kane. Kane remains a strong physical presence with some offensive upside. He likely won’t draw as much attention as Sherwood. But Kane could still fetch a couple of draft picks once the biggest available names are off the board.
Teams missing out on Sherwood may circle back to Kane. As for a timeline regarding a Kane deal, that remains unclear.
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