The Montreal Canadiens are among the half-dozen or so teams linked to one notable impending UFA forward.
The Habs remain in a battle for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, one point off the lead. As such, the club is looking to get any help it can get, particularly in its top-six forward group. That’s why free-agent-to-be Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks has been atop the Canadiens’ shopping list.
In a January 4 piece in the Fourth Period, insider David Pagnotta reported the Canadiens among the teams in the mix for the 30-year-old winger. However, the Habs are not the only team in the hunt for Sherwood.
Pagnotta wrote:
“Several teams remain interested in Sherwood, including the Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.”
The Wild, in particular, have been the subject of ongoing speculation. The Wild are apparently looking to add even after the Quinn Hughes trade. That situation could drive up the price for Sherwood.
According to prevailing chatter, the asking price for Sherwood is a first-round pick and a prospect. That’s a steep price for any team. Moreover, such a price could be too rich for a rental. That situation means that whoever wants to land Sherwood would like to get some assurance that he’ll potentially re-sign.
Canadiens May Have Trouble Re-Signing Sherwood
Assuming the Canadiens land Sherwood, they could have trouble re-signing him. As Pagnotta noted, Sherwood could be looking for a four or five-year deal in the range of $5 million AAV. Such a deal may be too high for a largely depth forward.
Sherwood has played a top-six role for the Canucks amid their injury woes this season. But on a deep, contending club, Sherwood could be naught more than a middle-six depth scoring option.
So, is that something the Canadiens would be comfortable paying $5 million a season for? If the Habs don’t believe they can re-sign Sherwood, their interest in trading for him may wane somewhat. At least, the club may not be willing to pay the price the Canucks are asking for.
Canucks Reportedly Offer Sherwood an Extension
Another interesting twist in this saga is the report that the Canucks have offered Sherwood an extension. As Elliotte Friedman discussed on the January 3 edition of Saturday Headlines, the Canucks have put a deal on the table for Sherwood to consider.
As Friedman noted, however, the two sides are still far apart. That situation could mean the Canucks pivot and move Sherwood to a team like the Canadiens. Nevertheless, there is still a considerable bit of uncertainty surrounding the entire situation.
In the meantime, the Canadiens will likely be keeping tabs on what happens in Vancouver. Jim Rutherford has a habit of pulling the trigger quickly. So, the Canucks could be ready to make a significant move sooner rather than later.
The unofficial deadline set for this season is the Olympic break. A roster freeze will take effect during the Olympic tourney. That’s why teams like the Canadiens, looking to make deals, will likely try to get them done beforehand.
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