While fans are still mourning the Quinn Hughes trade, the Vancouver Canucks have rattled off back-to-back wins with the new guys. However, there is still more work to do regarding the direction the team is taking.

The most likely player to be moved next is Kiefer Sherwood.

Sherwood has 13 goals and four assists for 17 points through 33 games, averaging 17:33 minutes per game. Those numbers are all on pace to break his previous career highs. Not only that, but he’s second in the league in hits with 146, and is averaging over two minutes of penalty kill time per game. And he comes at an extremely affordable $1.5 million cap hit.

He has slowed down offensively of late, with just one goal and four points in his last 13 games, but that isn’t scaring teams away, according to Donnie & Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal.

“Despite Sherwood scoring one goal in 13 games, a bunch of teams are still in on him,” said Dhaliwal. “Canucks should move this guy sooner than later; start a clean slate. You know they’re not signing him. Canucks don’t want to go past $3-3.5 million for Sherwood. You know he’s going to get more on July 1. There’s a bunch of teams on him because his salary is low: $1.5 million. Canucks are still trying to get a first-rounder for him.”

Once the Canucks sent out the memo to the rest of the league sharing that they had made their veterans available for trade, CanucksArmy covered a few potential suitors. However, situations, whether due to injuries, team performances or other factors, have changed, which could bring in more suitors or eliminate others.

And with Dhaliwal mentioning there are “a bunch” of teams still in on Sherwood, we thought to update the list.

We’ve separated 11 teams into three different types of teams: real suitors, suitors, but with no 2026 first-round pick, and unlikely, but other options for Sherwood’s services:

The Bruins have reportedly already checked in on Sherwood in late November. Since then, the Bruins have dealt with some injuries. Most notably, Viktor Arvidsson is out with a lower-body injury. The Bruins are currently icing Casey Mittlestadt, Marat Khusnutdinov, Alexander Steeves and Michael Eyssimont as their middle-six wingers. Sherwood would be an upgrade on most, if not all, of those options. Boston has two 2026 first-round picks: their own and the Toronto Maple Leafs’.

After picking first overall in June, the Islanders have new life in their team and are surprisingly second in the Metropolitan Division. First-year General Manager Mathieu Darche could reward his players for a strong start and acquire a piece as a vote of confidence in his club. There’s a spot in the lineup for Sherwood, as Kyle Palmieri tore his ACL and is out 6-8 months. New York has Max Shabanov (10 points in 22 games) and Simon Holmstrom (13 points in 33 games) in their top nine, where Sherwood could fill in. The Islanders have two 2026 first-round picks: their own and the Colorado Avalanche’s.

The Flyers find themselves in the same situation as the Islanders. Philadelphia is having a surprisingly good start to its season and is without one of its top-six wingers, Tyson Foerster, who is rumoured to be done for the rest of the season. That opens up a spot for Sherwood in the middle six, as the Flyers have Carl Grundstrom on the wing in their middle-six. Philadelphia has been noted by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman as a team to “keep an eye on” regarding Canucks players with ties to Head Coach Rick Tocchet. The Flyers have their own 2026 first-round pick.

The Mammoth are another team on the rise, who have an aggressive owner who’s ready to make the playoffs. Viewed as a heavy, physical team – with Lawson Crouse, Jack McBain and Liam O’Brien – the Mammoth surprisingly rank in the bottom half in the NHL in hits/60. Logan Cooley is out long-term, yet they are still on the bubble for the final Wild Card spot and could look to bolster their depth. The Mammoth have their own 2026 first-round pick, but have three seconds and two thirds to make moving off their first a little more digestible.

The Capitals find themselves back in the playoff picture again, and with only so many years left of the Alexander Ovechkin era, they will be looking to add. We know they were talking to the Canucks about Hughes, so they are already sniffing around the trade market. Washington has Ryan Leonard out right now, but even before his injury, former Canuck Anthony Beauvillier was skating on the top line with Ovechkin and Dylan Strome. Despite the deployment, Beauvillier has just 11 points in 33 games. Sherwood would be an upgrade on that top line, or anywhere they see fit in the lineup. The Capitals have their own 2026 first-round pick.

The Stars lost significant depth to their lineup this past offseason due to cap-related reasons. They shipped off Mason Marchment, who ranked in the top three in hits by a Stars forward last season, and are now without Tyler Seguin for the remainder of the season. They are undoubtedly stacked in the top six, but are icing Justin Hryckowian, Oskar Back and Colin Blackwell on the wings in the bottom six. Their depth is hurting, which isn’t great for a Championship-contending team like the Stars. The problem? The Stars are without their 2026 and 2028 first-round picks, but have their 2026 second- and third-round picks, to which they could package with a prospect like Cameron Schmidt.

This has been one team I’ve been keeping an eye on as a potential Sherwood fit. Sherwood seems like a Lightning-style, doesn’t he? Think back to when they won back-to-back Stanley Cups. They were deep, and had one of the most intimidating third lines consisting of Barclay Goodrow, Blake Coleman and Yanni Gourde. Sherwood fits that prototype of a player to pair that worked so well with Gourde on the third line. Currently, the Lightning are icing Zemgus Girgensons and Pontus Holmberg on their third line with Gourde.

Tampa Bay doesn’t have its 2026 or 2027 first-round pick, which makes me wonder about a player like Conor Geekie. The Lightning have dealt with numerous injuries this season, but Geekie has remained in the AHL since he was sent down on October 20, despite being over a point-per-game (23 points in 22 games). A first-round pick would be ideal in a Sherwood return, but a 6’4″, 21-year-old former first-round pick would be an attractive alternative.

Like the Capitals, the Hurricanes have also been reportedly sniffing around the trade market. However, the Hurricanes are likely to swing bigger for a higher-end option. Plus, Carolina has Will Carrier and Jordan Martinook on their third line right now, who bring a lot of the physical side of Sherwood’s game. The Hurricanes have their 2026 first-round pick, but their only other picks are two sixths. They would likely save that first in a package with some prospects for a larger upgrade, but Carolina always seems to be involved in moves, so it felt right to include them here.

The Blue Jackets are in a difficult spot. They are deep on the wing and have a heavy-hitter already in Mathieu Olivier. However, it’s been reported that the Blue Jackets – along with the following team – have checked in on the Canuck winger already. Sherwood is a Columbus, Ohio, native, so playing for his hometown might be something that interests him enough to extend if traded. Currently, the Blue Jackets have Yegor Chinakov, who has been searching for a new home, in their top six, and former first-round pick Kent Johnson on the fourth line.

Now, Sherwood for Johnson wouldn’t happen. Conor Garland would probably be the player going back the other way if they were to pry Johnson out of Columbus. However, Johnson’s demotion is noteworthy. Would not be opposed to the Canucks adding to a Sherwood package to bring the 23-year-old Port Moody native home to British Columbia. The Blue Jackets have their own 2026 first-round pick, but are second-last in the Eastern Conference, so they likely don’t want to part with that pick at this time. But if things turn around? They could be a fit.

As mentioned, the Canadiens have already checked in with the Canucks on Sherwood. Montreal have significant injuries to its forward group, with Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach all out of the lineup. However, if the Canadiens are to make a move, they’re likely in search of a centre upgrade, rather than a winger. Montreal owns its own 2026 first-round pick and also has a pair of second-round picks.

The Devils might be the most injured team in the league. Jack Hughes, Evgenii Dadonov, Timo Meier, Arseny Gritsyuk, and Zack MacEwen are all missing from the Devils’ forward group. With the injuries, the Devils are icing Ondrej Palat-Cody Glass-Connor Brown, Paul Cotter-Juho Lammikko-Stefan Noesen, and Xavier Parent-Luke Glendening-Angus Crookshank as their second, third, and fourth lines. Safe to say they need help everywhere, but have struggled to get a deal done due to their cap difficulties. Sherwood’s $1.5 million cap hit would require minimal money movement to make it work, but, like Montreal, they are probably more in the market for a centreman than a winger.

According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the Canucks’ original ask for Sherwood was a good, young prospect. However, as of December 8, the price increased to a first-round pick and a good roster player.

But, who’s paying that price? Sherwood would be categorized as a good roster player. Who’s swapping good roster players and trading a first-round pick on top? Sure, $1.5 million price tag is nice, but it’s only for the rest of this season. Then he’s going to get a substantial raise.

This author’s preference would be that the Canucks just take a first-round pick. As it is, the Canucks already can’t get Aatu Räty, who shares the team lead for 5-on-5 points this season, in the lineup. And that’s without Elias Pettersson and Teddy Blueger, who should be returning to the lineup soon. Where’s the room for another forward on this team?

Now, that was before the Hughes trade and the addition of Marco Rossi and Liam Öhgren to the forward group. So, maybe the asking price has changed. Regardless, turning a $1.5 million free agent signing into a first-round pick would be great work for this management group. It’s likely going to be a late first-round pick, as will be the Wild’s. If so, the team want to package them together and move up in the draft for a better prospect, they would have the assets in their arsenal to do so.

But even if not, when’s the last time the Canucks picked three times in the first round? Never. It would be an encouraging kickstart to the upcoming rebuild.

What do you think, Canucks fans? What would your ideal return be for Kiefer Sherwood, and who would you prefer to trade him to? Let us know in the comments below!