The Vancouver Canucks ended months of speculation by finalizing a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Monday.
The Canucks sent impending UFA forward Kiefer Sherwood to the Sharks in exchange for two second-round picks and depth defenseman Cole Clayton.
The return raised more than a few eyebrows as Sherwood had been one of the hottest names on the market this season. The prevailing chatter posited that the asking price for Sherwood was a first-round pick and a mid to high-level prospect.
The final trade, however, suggests that the Canucks did not get what they wanted. The club most likely pivoted to the best available trade. Instead of getting a first-round pick, now the Canucks have two seconds, one in the 2026 NHL Draft and the other in 2027.
The draft picks, while certainly useful, could be part of other deals moving forward. The Canucks may have other trades in mind. And so, the two second-rounders come in handy.
But there’s another perspective here. The Canucks are in the midst of a rebuild. As such, one of the core principles of a rebuild is to stock up on as many draft picks as possible. That’s what this trade accomplishes. The rationale would seem that two picks, even if second-rounders, are much better than just one pick.
The Canucks now have four picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft. That situation bodes well as this draft is deep, per the current consensus.
Canucks Add AHL-Level Depth Defenseman in Sherwood Trade
The other puzzling part of this trade is the acquisition of Cole Clayton. Clayton is a defenseman who’s never seen NHL action. He went undrafted and has made his way up the minor league ranks.
Clayton spent four seasons with the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He signed this season with the San Jose Barracuda, putting up two goals and five points in 33 games.
That situation does not suggest that Clayton will be a piece for the Canucks at the AHL level. While he’s still 25, Vancouver may not necessarily view him as a key piece at the NHL level.
That said, if the Canucks begin to move out bodies on the NHL blue line, spots will open up. That situation could open up an opportunity for Clayton to get his foot in the NHL door.
Vancouver Overplayed its Hand with Sherwood
Ultimately, the Canucks overplayed their hand with Sherwood. The 30-year-old winger went from a hot commodity to practically a cap dump. This deal is a home run for the Sharks. It signals that they are serious about making the playoffs this season.
But for Vancouver, it signals they may have waited too long to move Sherwood. It’s tough to know if there were better offers out there. But the eventual outcome of this negotiation clearly shows that the Canucks took the best offer available to them. That’s no bueno for the team moving forward as they look to hoard pieces for their rebuild.
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