One of the Colorado Avalanche’s rumored trade targets is officially off the board. The Vancouver Canucks traded impending UFA winger Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks for a pair of draft picks and a depth blueliner.
The move left more than a few fans and observers scratching their heads. Sherwood was believed to be the hottest commodity on the market this season. The forward has had a solid season, scoring 17 goals in 44 games. As such, teams looking for depth scoring saw in Sherwood, and his very palatable cap hit, as a worthwhile option.
However, the Canucks chose to sell a bit low on Sherwood. The rumored asking price for the 30-year-old forward was a first-round pick and a mid to high-level prospect. However, the Canucks took two second-round picks and an AHL defenseman, Cole Clayton.
The situation, then, begs the question: Is this a trade that the Avalanche could have pulled off? The Sharks sent a 2026 and 2027 second-round pick to Vancouver. That’s not a mind-shocking move by any means.
The Avalanche have two second-round picks in 2027, suggesting the Avs could have utilized those two picks to get something going.
Then, there’s the depth defenseman. The Canucks took a 25-year-old defender who’s never played in the NHL. So, wouldn’t someone like Ilya Solovyov move the needle?
In all likelihood, the Avalanche were never serious about Sherwood. Colorado could have used him, but most likely weren’t serious in pursuing the impending UFA.
Avalanche Don’t NEED Sherwood
Contrary to some opinions, the Avalanche don’t NEED Kiefer Sherwood. Sure, having him would have been a nice-to-have. But the reality is that Sherwood is not a top-six forward on a deep, contending team like Colorado.
Sherwood would be better off on the Avalanche’s third line. Having Sherwood with, say, Ross Colton and Valeri Nichushkin could have been the NHL’s best third line.
That’s why a fully healthy Avalanche lineup doesn’t really have room for Sherwood. If anything, the best argument for Sherwood in Colorado would have been his role as insurance in case of an injury.
Beyond that, jettisoning two draft picks for Sherwood was a luxury the Avalanche could not afford. The Avs could, and should, target other depth forwards with a much lower asking price. Such depth forwards are the kind who can step up during the postseason in the event of injuries.
Ultimately, the Avalanche did well in passing on Sherwood. There’s no point in making a substantial deal on such a type of forward now.
But there’s one caveat. Sherwood will be a free agent this summer. That’s a point where the Avalanche could jump in and try to land Sherwood on the open market. That would make more sense as it wouldn’t cost the Avs anything beyond a contract and cap space.