If the Buffalo Sabres are serious about making a playoff push this season, general manager Kevyn Adams is going to have to navigate the trade market with precision-and a healthy dose of patience. And if the price tag for Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood is any indication, the cost of doing business won’t be cheap.
According to recent reports, Vancouver is seeking a first-round pick plus an additional asset in exchange for Sherwood. That’s a steep ask for a player who, while productive in spurts, doesn’t exactly scream “franchise-altering acquisition.”
The Canucks, despite a rocky start to the 2025-26 campaign, aren’t in a rush to move him unless a team steps up with a premium offer. So far, that hasn’t happened-and for good reason.
Sherwood’s numbers this season are solid on the surface. He’s potted 12 goals in 27 games, building off a career-best 40-point campaign last year.
But context matters. He’s 30 years old, not a rising star.
His recent surge has the feel of a late-career breakout, not the start of a long-term trend. And with unrestricted free agency looming this summer, he’s likely eyeing a significant bump from his current $1.5 million salary.
That’s where the risk comes in for Buffalo. Giving up a first-round pick-likely lottery-protected given the Sabres’ recent history-and a top prospect for a player with limited long-term upside is a gamble. Especially when you dig deeper into the analytics.
Sherwood’s 5-on-5 expected goals for percentage (xGF%) since the start of last season sits at 45.8%, ranking 23rd among 28 Canucks forwards in that span, per Natural Stat Trick. That’s not the kind of underlying profile you want to pay a premium for. While he’s producing on the scoresheet, the advanced metrics suggest he’s not driving play consistently-certainly not at a level that justifies parting with a first-rounder and a promising young piece.
Even if Sherwood could provide some middle-six scoring depth, there's no guarantee he’d be a clear upgrade over someone like Jack Quinn, who’s had his own share of ups and downs but remains a younger, more controllable piece with room to grow.
That said, Adams shouldn’t take this as a sign to stay quiet at the deadline. Far from it.
The Sabres have shown real signs of life in recent weeks, clawing their way out of the Eastern Conference basement and pulling within striking distance of a playoff spot-just four points out of third in the Atlantic Division. That kind of momentum deserves reinforcement.
What Buffalo needs is a legitimate top-six winger-someone who can not only add punch at even strength but also help jumpstart a power play that too often goes missing in action. The right addition could be the difference between extending their 14-year playoff drought and finally breaking through.
Sherwood, for all his recent production, just doesn’t fit that mold. Not at this price.
If the Canucks drop their demands-or if other options dry up entirely-maybe the conversation changes. But for now, Adams is wise to keep looking elsewhere.
There’s a deal out there that makes sense for Buffalo. This just isn’t it.