The Vancouver Canucks have traded Kiefer Sherwood, a trade everyone expected would happen sooner or later. However, Sherwood’s destination, the San Jose Sharks, might be a little surprising for some. The Canucks are acquiring defenceman Cole Clayton, as well as second-round draft picks from 2026 and 2027, in return.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the #Canucks have acquired Cole Clayton and 2nd round picks in both the 2026 and 2027 NHL Entry Drafts from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Kiefer Sherwood.
DETAILS | https://t.co/joq7WzUoYv pic.twitter.com/uZpdUPJxMS
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 19, 2026
What Sherwood Brings to the Table For San Jose
“Given where things currently stand and the direction of our rebuild, we felt it was necessary to make a move like this as we continue to build our pipeline. In addition to adding two draft picks, Cole is a right-shot defenceman who will report to Abbotsford,” Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin said in a press release.
Kiefer Sherwood has been a massive success story in the last two seasons. Sherwood has scored 17 goals and 23 points this season, as well as a career-high 19 goals and 40 points last season. He also shattered the single-season NHL hits record in the 2024-25 season, with 462 hits. He is an excellent depth piece for any team, with his high work ethic and lethal shot. He has been a role model and leader for the Canucks, setting the standard for hard work. The Canucks certainly would have loved to keep him, but their current situation warranted a trade.
This move solidifies management’s belief that the rebuild for the Sharks has come to an end. The Sharks are currently sitting at 24-20-3, and in the second Stanley Cup Playoff Western Conference Wild Card spot. Sherwood will be bolster their depth significantly, and will make them more physical as well. His $1.5 million salary cap hit is also a very team-friendly contract. Whether he is a rental, or will be a long-term fit, remains unseen.
What the Canucks Got in Return
The Canucks acquired 25-year-old defenceman Cole Clayton. He has played in 33 games with the San Jose Barracuda, the AHL affiliate of the Sharks. He has recorded five points in that span of games. He has played in 257 career AHL games and accumulated 14 goals and 52 assists. Clayton was signed by the San Jose Sharks as a free agent on July 1, 2025.
The additional draft picks that Vancouver acquired will bring their total selections to seven in the upcoming draft. In 2027, they will have eight selections.
This move solidifies their direction of a rebuild, as they are starting to sell off veterans. As all veteran players continue to remain in potential trade talks, the Canucks are in the midst of a ten-game losing skid. That may have played a factor in pulling the trigger on the Sherwood trade quickly. Sherwood was also recently injured, which you wonder if it lessened the return for him. We expect that there will be more moves ahead as the Canucks continue down the rebuilding path.
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