{"id":145568,"date":"2026-01-23T01:44:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T01:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/145568\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T01:44:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T01:44:09","slug":"san-jose-sharks-kiefer-sherwood-says-he-wants-to-face-vancouver-canucks-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/145568\/","title":{"rendered":"San Jose Sharks’ Kiefer Sherwood says he wants to face Vancouver Canucks"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN JOSE \u2013 Do-it-all winger Kiefer Sherwood<\/a> began the process of acclimating to his new home this week and is hoping to make his debut with the San Jose Sharks as soon as Tuesday when they play his former team, the Vancouver Canucks.<\/a><\/p>\n

But while Sherwood\u2019s first game with the Sharks will happen soon, whether it\u2019s early next week or shortly afterward, his long-term future in San Jose is more uncertain.<\/a><\/p>\n

Sherwood, a pending unrestricted free agent,<\/a> was acquired by the Sharks on Monday in a splashy trade<\/a> that saw two second round picks, one this year and one in 2027, plus defenseman Cole Clayton, sent to the Canucks.<\/p>\n

Sherwood skated in San Jose on Thursday, a day after he took some time to drive around the city and better familiarize himself with the area. Still, he arrived in the South Bay without a contract extension<\/a>, leading to questions about how long he\u2019ll stay.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just trying to stay in the present,\u201d said Sherwood, who led the Canucks with 17 goals<\/a> this season before the trade. \u201cObviously, everything happens, and you kind of get settled in after the whirlwind, and we\u2019ll see. I know I\u2019m hearing really great things, and I\u2019m really excited to just join the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to get out there as soon as I can and help the team before the break. (That\u2019s) kind of my focus right now, and I want to add as much as I can to the group, just give us the best chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sherwood hasn\u2019t played since he sustained an undisclosed injury in Vancouver\u2019s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> on Jan. 10.<\/p>\n

Coach Ryan Warsofsky said Sherwood is considered day to day and will not play Friday when the Sharks host the New York Rangers. The Sharks then play the Canucks on Tuesday to begin a five-game road trip that leads into the start of the Olympic break in early February.<\/p>\n

Sherwood will travel with the Sharks on the trip. Asked about the possibility about playing in Vancouver next week, Sherwood said, \u201cMaybe, we\u2019ll see. I don\u2019t know. I\u2019m going to try.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just trying to take it day by day and get up to speed as fast as I can. And we\u2019ll see when that time is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sharks general manager Mike Grier and Sherwood\u2019s camp have had initial discussions about what the Ohio native\u2019s next contract would look like, and the two sides were reportedly far apart in negotiations.<\/p>\n

The newest Shark pic.twitter.com\/GhoXHWRCwF<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

With this potentially being his last opportunity to cash in on a multi-year deal, the 30-year-old Sherwood, per Chris Johnston of TSN<\/a> and The Athletic, could be asking for as much as $30 million in his next contract.<\/p>\n

Sherwood\u2019s agent is Judd Moldaver,<\/a> who also represents Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. Sherwood\u2019s camp reportedly turned down<\/a> a recent Canucks offer on an extension that was around three or four years in length with an average annual value of $4 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m leaving that to Juddy,\u201d Sherwood said of the contract talks. \u201cI\u2019m just trying to stay in the present and get settled in as quick as I can. I want to play as soon as I can and I\u2019m looking, obviously, at that game against Vancouver \u2013 I\u2019m going to try and make that happen. So that\u2019s kind of where my head\u2019s at. Just want to get immersed in the area and just continue to get to know the guys as best I can.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really thankful that this organization has brought me in and trusted me and obviously give up what they gave up. So I\u2019m going to do everything I can just to add as much I can to the team. Just grateful to be here and that (the Sharks) pulled the trigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sherwood is a multi-faceted addition to the Sharks. Not only does he have 36 goals in his last 122 games, but also, since the start of the 2023-24 season, leads the NHL with 906 hits, can play up and down the lineup and help with both the power play and penalty kill.<\/p>\n

Warsofsky said he already knows where he wants to play Sherwood, although he wasn\u2019t making any declarations on Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I heard (Columbus Blue Jackets coach) Rick Bowness say you need nasty,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cYou look around the league, the team that wins the Stanley Cup will play with nasty, and they play with jam. The more types of players of those that you have, the rest of the guys get dragged into the fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he brings that nasty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov was teammates with Sherwood in the Nashville organization, mostly with the Predators\u2019 AHL affiliate in Milwaukee in 2022-23. He described Sherwood as \u201ca rat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate to play him,\u201d Askarov said. \u201cHe\u2019s like one of the worst players to play against and probably one of the best to play on the same team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The addition of Sherwood by Grier also sent a message to the Sharks players that he believes in their ability to remain in the playoff hunt.<\/p>\n

The Sharks, based on tiebreakers, entered Thursday just outside of the playoff picture with 53 points, same as the Seattle Kraken and Los Angeles Kings, and two points back of the Anaheim Ducks for third place in the Pacific Division.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it shows that (Grier) believes in this group and that we\u2019re not looking to be sellers at the deadline. We\u2019re looking to make a push,\u201d Sharks winger Ryan Reaves said. \u201cI think this group\u2019s done a good job of earning that. Everybody in this room is happy that (Grier) saw the work we put in and went out looking to make us better.\u201d<\/p>\n

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