NHL Trade Rumors: Canucks' Kiefer Sherwood & $36M 'important' winger drawing massive interest from rivals 

Trade chatter surrounding the Vancouver Canucks has intensified this week. They have started the season on a very slow pace and have a 10-13-3 record. They are placed 29th in the league, and this has intensified pressure on the management to make decisions about the team's future.

Analyst Rick Dhaliwal has revealed on Donnie and Dhali that rivals are circling two of the team’s right-wingers: Kiefer Sherwood and the recently extended Conor Garland. According to Dhaliwal,

“Lots of teams are interested in both Garland and Sherwood".

Speaking on the Donnie and Dhali podcast, Dhaliwal further said,

"Boston's looking for a winger who can score. I wouldn't be surprised if they're in on Sherwood. The Canucks can't keep all their right-wingers. They got too many right-wingers, and Lekkerimaki is coming soon.

"I did hear a couple of teams who, like Sherwood, are worried about his contract. Some teams may want to talk to his agent."

However, the situations of the two players are drastically different. Garland, who signed a six-year, $36 million extension beginning in 2026-27 and holding three years of no-movement protection, remains a core cultural piece in Vancouver.

Dhaliwal emphasized the organization’s reluctance to move him, stating the Canucks would only consider a “make-me-an-offer-you-can’t-refuse” scenario. Even amid an upper-body injury that currently sidelines him - after producing 15 points in 21 games - Garland’s importance as an energy driver, penalty killer, and reliable playmaker keeps him firmly in the team’s long-term vision.

"You know, Canucks do not want to move them, but if they get an offer, that's one of those. What's the phrase? Make me an offer you can't refuse," Dhaliwal said. "I mean, they're probably going to have to think about it.

"But for culture reasons, I don't care if you're in a rebuild or you're a losing team, for cultural reasons. This guy is important,"

Sherwood’s situation is far more fluid. In the final year of his two-year, $3 million contract, the 30-year-old is awaiting extension talks while posting one of the most productive stretches of his career. With 12 goals and 16 points in 26 games, he leads the team in goal scoring and has supplied timely offense on both the forecheck and power play.

Vancouver Canucks' facing crucial decision amid slide

Vancouver Canucks' broader context complicates the picture. The Canucks' season is slipping out of contract, and they are struggling defensively, allowing 3.65 goals per game with one of the league’s weakest penalty kills.

So, the management may ultimately need to weigh short-term competitiveness against future roster balance. This is more crucial, especially with prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki nearing NHL readiness.

As interest grows, Vancouver will have difficult decisions ahead. Garland represents culture and stability; Sherwood offers immediate scoring and trade value. Whether either winger is ultimately moved may depend on just how irresistible those incoming offers become.