NHL Rumor Roundup: Will The Canucks Trade Or Sign Kiefer Sherwood? Could The Flyers Peddle Rasmus Ristolainen?
A report last Saturday by Sportsnet’s
Elliotte Friedman claiming the Vancouver Canucks had reopened
contract talks with Kiefer Sherwood was greeted with skepticism by
some pundits.
However, CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal followed up by
claiming the Canucks offered the 30-year-old winger a deal between
four and five years with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million.
Meanwhile, Vincent Z. Mercogliano
reported a league source claimed the New York Rangers had been “pushing hard” to acquire Sherwood. He said the Canucks’
asking price was believed to be a first-round pick and maybe more.
Mercogliano noted that Sherwood carried
an affordable cap hit of $1.5 million for this season. However, he
also indicated that recent injuries to goaltender Igor Shesterkin and
defenseman Adam Fox could turn the Rangers into sellers if those two
stars are sidelined for a lengthy period.
Patrick Johnston of The Province
confirmed the Rangers’ interest in Sherwood. He also acknowledged the
renewed contract discussions between the two sides but claimed
they’re no closer to an agreement.
The Canucks seem keen to retain
Sherwood for an affordable price while they rebuild quickly with
younger players. However, the fact that they’re still entertaining
offers suggests they won’t hesitate to move him for the right offer
if Sherwood seeks more than they’re willing to pay.
Report: Canucks’ Newest Offer For Pending UFA Kiefer Sherwood Reaches $4M Per Year
According to CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal, the Canucks’ newest offer for pending UFA Kiefer Sherwood has reached around $4M.
Turning to the Philadelphia Flyers,
their blueline got a boost last month with the return of Rasmus
Ristolainen. The 31-year-old defenseman had been sidelined since last
March, recovering from triceps surgery.
Ristolainen frequently surfaced in
trade rumors over the past two seasons. According to Daily Faceoff’s
Anthony Di Marco, the Flyers are not actively shopping the big
rearguard but could be enticed into parting with him for the right
offer.
Di Marco’s source speculated that the
Flyers would want a return comparable to what the Montreal Canadiens
received from the Florida Panthers for Ben Chiarot in 2002. The
Canadiens got a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder and a prospect in
that deal.
Ristolainen is signed through 2026-27
with an average annual value of $5.1 million and lacks no-trade protection. As a
right-shot defenseman with solid all-around skills, he would draw
plenty of interest from playoff contenders.
The Flyers are in the thick of
the Eastern Conference post-season race, however. It’s unlikely they’ll part
with him for draft picks and prospects if they remain in the chase by
the March 6 NHL trade deadline.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
