SAN JOSE — In playoff contention for the first time in years, the San Jose Sharks made a significant splash less than seven weeks before the NHL trade deadline, acquiring forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks for second-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027, and AHL defenseman Cole Clayton.

Sherwood, 30, had 23 points in 44 games this year for the Canucks. He led the team in goals (17) and ranks second in the NHL in hits (210), and averaged 17:32 in ice time per game, fifth among all Canucks forwards.

In his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and Canucks, Sherwood, a pending unrestricted free agent, has 121 points in 309 career NHL games.

Sherwood, one of the NHL’s top trade targets before the March 6 deadline with the Canucks out of the playoff picture, is in the final year of a two-year, $3-million contract he signed with the Canucks in July 2024. He has not played since Jan. 10 and is presently on injured reserve with an undisclosed ailment, and it was not immediately clear when he might return.

The Sharks’ acquisition of Sherwood does not come with a contract extension. With his next deal, his salary cap hit is expected to rise significantly from $1.5 million to over $5 million.

Sherwood, meeting with reporters in Vancouver on Monday, said he wasn’t sure if he would be available to play for San Jose before the Olympic break in early February, adding that he’ll need to see Sharks doctors before any decision is made.

Sherwood, who had been rumored to be on the move for weeks, also thanked Canucks management for getting the deal done now instead of closer to the trade deadline. Per Vancouver-based broadcaster Jeff Paterson, Sherwood and his wife are expecting a baby girl in April, and the couple wanted to be settled well before the arrival.

When healthy, the 6-foot, 194-pound Sherwood figures to bring a little bit of everything to the Sharks’ lineup. Sherwood scored a career-best 19 goals last season and is thought of as a terrific skater with a high motor.

Kiefer Sherwood isn’t sure he’ll play for Sharks before Olympic break. Shook hands with his left hand. Said he skated this morning, but needs to see Sharks doctors before any decision is made. So unlikely to play here on the 27th

— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) January 19, 2026

Sherwood was also one of the Canucks’ leaders on both the power play and penalty kill. He led all Canucks in average shorthanded time on ice (2:05) this season and was sixth in average power play time per game (2:12). His 10 points this season with the man advantage were tied for third-most on the team.

“We would like to thank Kiefer for all his hard work and dedication in Vancouver,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. “As an organization, we take a lot of pride in giving him the opportunity to grow and excel as a player. Given where things currently stand and the direction of our rebuild, we felt it was necessary to make a move like this as we continue to build our pipeline.”

Allvin added that Clayton, who had five points in 33 games with the Barracuda, will report to the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.

The Sharks (24-20-3) entered this week locked in a tight playoff battle. San Jose, before Monday’s games, was the Western Conference’s second wild-card team with 51 points, the same as Pacific Division rivals Seattle Kraken, Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings. The Nashville Predators are right behind with 50 points.

The Sharks haven’t made the playoffs since 2019, when they advanced to the Western Conference final before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.

With the Sharks in the mix for a postseason berth, general manager Mike Grier, after years of trading players before the deadline for draft picks and prospects, dipped into his stockpile of picks to acquire a player who could be in San Jose only until the end of the regular season. The Sharks now have seven picks in this year’s draft, including two first-rounders, and four in 2027.

The second first-round selection the Sharks own for this year is a conditional pick acquired from the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Jake Walman. The selection is top-12 protected, so if it is in the top-12, the Oilers may choose to transfer their 2027 first-round selection to San Jose instead.

Edmonton entered Monday in second place in the Pacific Division, and 10th in the NHL’s overall standings, with a 25-17-8 record. Should the Oilers trade their 2027 first-round selection before this year’s trade deadline, their 2026 first-round selection will transfer to San Jose unconditionally.

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