Sherwood is another player Nashville let go and is doing very well.
It could be argued that the Nashville Predators made too many big changes to their lineup this off-season and that is the cause for lack of scoring and lack of chemistry. The team sits 30th in the league through 25 games and are dead last in the NHL in goals scored per game with 2.32.
One of the changes that has quickly come back to haunt the Predators is letting Kiefer Sherwood hit free agency. He ended up getting $1.5 million AAV for two years from the Vancouver Canucks and that couldn't have been given to him to stay in Nashville?
While it isn't necessarily on the big additions to the Predators like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, and Sherwood isn't technically on the same level in regards to role and offensive capabilities, it's hard to argue with Sherwood's production and impact. He already has six goals and 12 points in 23 games.
Stamkos has seven goals and 13 points while Marchessault has four goals and 12 points, both in 25 games. Sherwood is a +5 on the season while Stamkos and Marchessault are a combined -24 and have a $13.5 million AAV cap hit for at least three more years after this one.
Sherwood hasn't just been a bottom-6 player like how he's paid this season. He has spent over 80 minutes on a line with Elias Pettersson, even though the two have spent more time apart overall. The analytics are stellar as they are outscoring and out-chancing the opponents while on the ice and Pettersson has been better with Sherwood on his line.
The former Nashville Predator is four goals and 15 points from his career high already, without the help of the power play. Those marks were set last season by him with Nashville. He is also on pace to shatter the NHL record for hits in a season. Sherwood is on pace for 513 hits as he already has 144 through 23 games. The record was broken last season by Predators' Jeremy Lauzon with 383. The Predators' d-man is on pace for 369 this season.
Sherwood kills penalties on top of it all, but Nashville's penalty kill has actually been great. Regardless, he has been doing it all and can play up and down the lineup contributing wherever he's needed as well as impacting every shift with his physicality.
Nashville was familiar with him, and vice versa. The adjustment for the new players hasn't been as easy and the Predators miss and would be better off with Sherwood still on the team in whichever role he's needed in.
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