Kiefer Sherwood was signed by the Vancouver Canucks to a two-year contract on July 1.
Kiefer Sherwood was signed by the Vancouver Canucks to a two-year contract on July 1.
One player that may bounce around the Vancouver Canucks lineup this season is Kiefer Sherwood. The 29-year-old winger was signed on July 1 to a two-year contract and is expected to play a key role in the lineup this season. Known more as a bottom-six forward, Sherwood is very versatile and has shown over the past month that he can adapt his game to fit different situations.
Sherwood's strong pre-season has not gone unnoticed. Head Coach Rick Tocchet has praised him multiple times, including after practice on Saturday. Despite still getting to know Sherwood, Tocchet indicated that he has big plans for the former Nashville Predators forward.
"There might be sometimes, he might be with Pettersson, he might be up the odd time," said Tocchet. "You never know; you throw him up on that line. I thought he played really well with Teddy (Blueger) last night. There's some chemistry there. Him and Bains, with Hoggy (Nils Höglander), I think he's a mixture guy, where you can play him anyway. Penalty kill, sometimes he'll be on the power play. He's a guy that I can count on in different situations to put him out there. Four on four, maybe a five on six when we're trying to protect the lead when the other team pulls a goalie. I've known him for three weeks, but I've watched video, that I think that I'm not as scared to use him."
Latest From THN's Vancouver Canucks Site:
Vancouver Canucks Assign Akito Hirose To Abbotsford
Canucks Conclude 2024 Pre-Season With Impressive 4-1 Victory Over The Edmonton Oilers
Analytics Site Gives Canucks 5.6% Chance Of Winning The 2025 Stanley Cup
How Much It Will Cost Fans To Attend The Canucks Final Pre-Season Game Of 2024
From BC To The Big Club: Arshdeep Bains’ Path To The Canucks
Sherwood is a pain to play against, not just because of his physicality but his never-ending motor. The Canucks experienced this firsthand last year, as he was arguably one of Nashviille's best players in their first-round series. Tocchet has also noticed this quality in Sherwood, which could lead Vancouver's coach to place him on a struggling line at different parts of the season, much like he has done in the past with Conor Garland.
"Him and garland are those types. If you need some juice, you can throw those guys in there. They're motor guys, and they get under people's skin. Garland does, too. When he wins puck battles in the corner against six-foot-five guys, it pisses guys off. I think that's why they're successful when they get thrown into different lines."
While it is early, Sherwood is in the running for the best contract signed this past offseason. He should easily be able to outplay his cap hit of $1.5 million and could join a long list of free-agent home runs by GM Patrik Allvin and his staff. Ultimately, it is clear that Tocchet has big plans for Sherwood and is confident that the winger can become a crucial part of the Canucks lineup.
