Who would have thought when Kiefer Sherwood signed with the Vancouver Canucks this offseason that he would become a franchise record holder before year’s end?

Well, that’s what happened on Sunday night when Kiefer Sherwood set the Canucks’ franchise single-season record for hits in a season with 274.

The previous record holder, Luke Schenn, finished with 273 in 66 games during the 2021-2022 season. Schenn was on pace to break his record the following season – registering 258 hits through 55 games – had he not been dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline.

A current Canuck nearly had this record last season, as Dakota Joshua finished 30 hits short (244) despite playing only 63 games as he missed time due to an injury.

Let alone franchise record, Sherwood is on pace to set an NHL record for hits. He is currently on pace to finish the season with 453 hits on the season after missing the most recent four games. The NHL record during the salary cap era for hits in a single season was set last season by Sherwood’s former teammate, Jeremy Lauzon, who finished with 383.

Sherwood is on pace to smash that old record and beat it by 70. The American forward has a sizable lead on the next highest, outhitting Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway by 76 and counting. Sherwood has earned this significant lead due to his six double-digit hit games, including tying the franchise record for hits in a single game, owned by Schenn who reached this feat 12 times.

The undrafted winger has brought a lot more to this Canucks team than just hits. Sherwood has scored 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points with a minus-1 rating through 47 games this season. He has already set a career-high in goals and trails his high in points by six while playing the most minutes of his career, averaging 14:36 minutes of ice time.

Now that Sherwood has the Canucks’ franchise hits record, the hard-hitting forward will now have his eyes set on making his presence felt in the NHL record books by season’s end.