The San Jose Sharks are … buying?
For the first time since 2019, also the last time that the Sharks made the playoffs, San Jose is arming the team for a Stanley Cup Playoff run.
The Sharks acquired winger Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks for their 2026 and 2027 second-round draft picks and minor league defenseman Cole Clayton.
San Jose Hockey Now spoke with four NHL scouts, none with the Sharks or Canucks, who are all high on the player, even if they’re a little leery of the acquisition cost for a pending UFA.
Obviously, too, adding a winger doesn’t address the Sharks’ biggest need, the blueline.
“That’s the bigger area of concern for them,” Scout No. 4 noted.
But there’s still plenty of time from now until the NHL trade deadline, and San Jose has lots of other quality assets to deal for an impact defenseman.
The Sharks still have all their first-round draft picks, and the Edmonton Oilers’ 2026 selection, too, as well as a bushel of solid prospects.
“Fabulous pick up,” Scout No. 3 said of Sherwood. “Thought they would get a first for him.”
“Really like him.”
Sherwood, 30, is a physical 6-foot-0 winger with a scoring touch. Last season, he scored 19 goals and set an NHL record with 462 hits. This year, he has potted 17 through 44 contests and is second in the league with 210 hits.
“Really like him,” Scout No. 1 said. “Plays direct and gets to the net. Not a natural finisher but earns his looks. Offense will likely drop off, but plays hard, fast, and physical. Ideally, a bottom-six winger, but can jump up higher in the lineup to give a spark.”
“He’s a competitive player with decent skill,” Scout No. 2 said. “Gets in on the forecheck and plays with some jam. Can be used on both penalty kill and power play.”
“Good wheels. Offers the physicality that most teams are looking for in a playoff drive,” Scout No. 3 said. “Perfect middle-six banger, complements good players well. Generates turnovers and scores dirty goals.”
“He would help 32 teams.”
The Sharks don’t have a player like Sherwood in their top-nine right now. At the moment, they don’t have a prospect quite like him either.
His fast and physical forechecking style, with a touch of skill, seems like an outstanding fit for how the Sharks want to play, now and in the future.
“Should fit in well,” Scout No. 1 said.
“He’s a fit for a lot of teams,” Scout No. 3 said. “He would help 32 teams.”
Sherwood also is an excellent locker room presence, by all accounts.
“They need some vets to help younger players,” Scout No. 2 said. “He will help them, for sure.”
As a player, Sherwood appears to be, actually, a perfect fit for the Sharks, on and off the ice.
“Checks all those boxes,” Scout No. 4 said.
But there are some red flags with Sherwood.
“Will be overpaid.”
While Sherwood is an ideal fit as a player for general manager Mike Grier’s vision of the Sharks, he’s 30 and a pending UFA.
“Think his value is highest right now under his current contract. Will be overpaid on his next,” Scout No. 1 said.
Sherwood’s current AAV is just $1.5 million, but that might triple in his next deal.
“Likely to be overpaid on his next deal, but the Sharks are okay cap-wise,” Scout No. 1 added.
In a perfect world, Sherwood would be in his mid-20’s and locked up long-term. But on the other hand, if you wait for the perfect player who’s like a Sherwood, young, physical, skilled, and great in the room — a hard-to-find combination — you could end up with nothing.
There’s also reason to believe that Sherwood can be an integral part of the Sharks for the next half-decade, as 30 isn’t 40, after all. His tangibles and intangibles could make a pricey new deal worth it.
“Good trade for San Jose,” Scout No. 2 said. “I assume they will get him extended, as well.”
“Good move,” Scout No. 4 said, “especially if they can re-sign him.”
If they don’t, it’s a heavy price to pay for a rental, especially for a team like the Sharks, that is a playoff contender, but not necessarily a Stanley Cup contender.
But if you trust these scouts, Sherwood is the right kind of player for a team that’s trying to establish itself as a winner.
Sherwood sounds like a good risk.
“Good opportunity for the Sharks to keep him for this playoff push and gives them a chance to lock him up,” Scout No. 1 said.