The Buffalo Sabres are finally starting to get healthier, and with that, their offense is showing signs of life. But even with some key players returning to the lineup, the team still sits tied for 18th in the NHL in goals per game at 2.96-a number that underscores just how much room there is for improvement. So, it’s no surprise that general manager Kevyn Adams is keeping an eye on the trade market.
One name that’s surfaced in recent conversations: Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood.
According to reports, the Sabres are one of four Eastern Conference teams-alongside the Bruins, Red Wings, and Islanders-that have reached out to Vancouver about Sherwood, who’s drawing interest as a potential midseason pickup. The 30-year-old winger is having a career resurgence, notching 12 goals in his first 26 games this season after posting a personal-best 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) in 78 games last year.
On paper, that kind of production looks like exactly what the Sabres need: a top-six winger who can help spark an inconsistent offense. But when you dig a little deeper, the fit becomes a lot murkier.
Let’s start with the bigger picture. The Canucks are currently sitting 30th in the NHL standings, just one point behind the Sabres, who are 29th.
Vancouver’s looking to shake things up, and Sherwood could be one of the more movable pieces on their roster. That makes him available-but availability doesn’t always equal value.
Sherwood’s recent scoring surge is impressive, but it’s also a bit of an outlier when you look at his full body of work. Before last season, he had just 24 goals in 187 NHL games. He’s scoring at a much higher rate now, but the question is whether that production is sustainable-or if it's just a hot streak.
The advanced stats raise some red flags. Last season, Sherwood ranked 18th among Canucks forwards in 5-on-5 expected goals for percentage (xGF%) at 47.6%.
That’s not what you want to see from a forward you're considering for a top-six role. This year, that number has dipped even further to 40.8%.
In other words, when Sherwood is on the ice at even strength, the Canucks are generally getting outplayed.
Digging into his individual expected goals (ixG), the numbers suggest he’s been outperforming his chances. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Sherwood has generated 19.3 expected goals. He’s finishing well above that mark, which points to a stretch of strong puck luck more than a dramatic leap in skill.
That kind of statistical profile makes Sherwood a risky bet-especially for a team like Buffalo that’s trying to build something sustainable. Yes, they’re in need of more scoring. But this isn’t the time to gamble on a player whose recent production might not hold up over the long haul.
And there’s another layer to consider: roster construction. Bringing in Sherwood would likely push a young player like Noah Ostlund out of the lineup.
Ostlund has been one of the bright spots during his first extended NHL stint, and he’s shown flashes of the kind of dynamic play the Sabres need more of. Taking away his ice time for a player with a boom-or-bust profile doesn’t seem like the right move at this stage of the rebuild.
That’s not to say Adams should stand pat. The Sabres absolutely need to keep looking for a legitimate top-six upgrade-someone with a proven track record who can elevate the offense and help stabilize a team that’s still searching for its identity. But Sherwood, despite his recent goal-scoring run, doesn’t check enough of those boxes.
If the price is low and the risk is minimal, maybe there’s a conversation to be had. But if there’s a bidding war brewing-and it sounds like multiple teams are at least kicking the tires-then Buffalo would be wise to sit this one out.
The Sabres need a difference-maker. Sherwood, at this point in his career, just doesn’t look like that guy.