Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours from the crew at Last Word on Hockey. We’re into the month of December and teams are really getting a solid look at what they’re lacking during the 2025-26 season. One of those teams is the Montreal Canadiens. In this edition of NHL rumours, we focus on the Habs interest in current Vancouver Canucks forward, Kiefer Sherwood.
All NHL rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours: Canadiens Expressing Interest in Canucks Forward
Rumour: According to Pierre LeBrun on TSN’s Insider Trading, the Montreal Canadiens have kicked tires on Kiefer Sherwood.
Analysis: Add the Habs to the long list of teams that have at least checked in on Kiefer Sherwood. Sherwood has found his name around the rumour mill a lot this season. It should not come as a surprise. Sherwood broke out last season, scoring 19 goals and 40 points in 78 games while throwing a league-leading 462 hits. That’s 156 more than the next player, which was Mathieu Olivier. This type of physical presence is something that every team wants in their lineup. And when the scoring is able to match the physical play, that’s the type of player teams salivate over.
This season, Sherwood already has 12 goals and 16 points in 28 games. He also sits second in hits with 119. While he may not be the second-line centre they’re looking for, he’s producing that secondary scoring that the Canadiens are searching for while also playing the physical style they drastically need. Moreover, Sherwood is also an effective penalty killer and can produce on the power play. Making him an even more attractive option for the Canadiens to acquire.
Cost to Acquire Sherwood
Pierre LeBrun mentions that in a perfect world, the Canucks would like to get a young player back in return for Sherwood, as opposed to just futures. This is where it gets interesting for the Canadiens, as they do hold an abundance of young talent in their prospect pool, some of which are NHL-ready. Rick Dhaliwal brought up the name of Zachary Bolduc, but that would be more of a lateral move for Montreal. They wouldn’t be looking to send off a younger, talented player they just traded for and is already on their roster to replace him with the older Sherwood. It would also impact their secondary scoring, and they’d be back to square one.
However, other players may be enticing to the Canucks. Names like Owen Beck, Joshua Roy and Sean Farrell, amongst others, come to mind. These players obviously wouldn’t come as a one-for-one trade, but they are definitely pieces that could entice the Canucks to make a deal.
Potential Deal Coming
While there are many suitors for Sherwood’s services, the Canadiens could hold the upper hand given the quantity and quality of the pieces they have to get a deal done with the Canucks. They have everything the Canucks could possibly be looking for at their disposal, and Kent Hughes will certainly keep a close eye on this situation. The more interesting part will be what type of contract Sherwood would sign to stay in Montreal if a deal gets done. Sherwood is a pending UFA, and Hughes would certainly want to have him lock in longer term with the team instead of strictly using him as a rental. This is a situation that will intensify as we get closer to the trade deadline. However, it’s almost certain that Sherwood will be wearing a new jersey after this year’s deadline.
