The Minnesota Wild are having an exceptional season. The Wild are 27-13-9 on the season, and are sitting tied for second within the Central Division. The franchise has made the playoffs in 4 of the past five seasons, but has yet to advance out of the primary round. In the event that they need to make a run for the Cup this 12 months, they still have to make some moves, and one in all those is for Kiefer Sherwood.
The Canucks have signaled that they’re open for business. They’ve already moved Quinn Hughes this 12 months, they usually traded him to the Wild. The price was high for the Wild. They sent a 2026 first-round pick, plus Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and Liam Ohgren to the Canucks to get the star blueliner. With the Canucks being willing to trade players, a deal between the Wild and Canucks could occur again.
Sherwood joined the NHL as an undrafted free agent, initially twiddling with the Anaheim Geese. Through his time with the Geese, and later the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators, Sherwood has often split time between the NHL and AHL. Since his final season in Nashville in 2023-24 and his time to this point in Vancouver, he has been an NHL presence and is improving. In 2023-24, he amassed 27 points, and he racked up 40 points for the Canucks in 2024-25. He already has 23 points in 44 games to this point this 12 months. That places him on pace for a second straight 40-point season.
Why trade for Kiefer Sherwood?
The Wild have to sustain within the Western Conference. If the Wild hold on to a top-three spot within the Central Division, they might not should play a team from the Pacific Division until the conference finals within the playoffs, unless they one way or the other grab the highest seed within the division and face a wild-card team. Still, the Pacific has some solid teams. The Edmonton Oilers have made it to 2 straight Stanley Cup Finals, while the Vegas Golden Knights are leading the division. The Golden Knights also just added Rasmus Andersson in a trade with the Calgary Flames.
Meanwhile, the Wild have heavy competition in their very own division. The Avalanche are the highest team within the NHL without delay, and they’re going to likely be trying to add before the trade deadline. Further, the Dallas Stars are also expected to be energetic within the trade market, and could be the first-round matchup currently. Because the standings hold, a run to the Cup Final could mean a series against the Stars, Avalanche, and either the Oilers or Golden Knights. If the Wild need to make a run, they should improve.
The Wild are scoring 3.10 goals per game this 12 months, placing them seventeenth within the NHL. Sherwood would give the Wild one other scoring option on the second or third lines. Still, the largest issue for the Wild has been the special teams. The team is eleventh on the powerplay and twenty seventh on the penalty kill. Sheerwood has been solid on the powerplay this 12 months, with ten points with the person advantage. That might place him tied for third in powerplay points on the Wild.
Meanwhile, the Wild are twenty seventh on the penalty kill. Sherwood has shown in his profession that he’s great when playing down a person. He could be an enormous improvement for the unit and will make a huge effect against some conference foes who’re great on the person advantage. Sherwood could be an ideal fit for the team and at a solid price. While it will be a rental, the Wild have already shown they’re willing to go all-in for a run, and this may be one other peice.
What shall be the right offer for Sherwood?
The Wild have already given up their 2026 first-round pick to the Canucks to amass Quinn Hughes. Also they are without their second-round pick attributable to the Gustav Nyquist trade from 2025. Meanwhile, the team doesn’t have a 2027 second-round pick either. It is very unlikely the Wild will want to present up one other first-round pick, especially for a currently injured player who’s a rental. While Sherwood is anticipated back soon, the Wild will need to make a package that doesn’t involve a first-round pick.
Further, the Wild will likely need the Canucks to retain a number of the salary of Sherwood, though he’s making just $1.5 million this season. That is going to make the necessity for a high quality package even greater. Other teams will likely offer a first-round pick, so the front office in Minnesota will should be creative. Adding within the indisputable fact that the Avalanche are already great, and the Golden Knights just added to their roster, maintaining within the Western Conference means making moves.
The Canucks are clearly in a rebuild, so draft picks shall be essential, and draft picks that occur quickly develop into more essential. Minnesota could punt on the 2026 NHL Draft, not having a primary or second-round pick, but in addition making an instantaneous run. The Wild could start with this 12 months’s third and fourth round picks, while also sending their 2028 second round pick.
Regardless, the three picks alone wouldn’t have the worth of a first-round selection, which suggests the Wild can even have to add a solid prospect. One option could possibly be Charlie Stramel. He was the number 21 overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft and is currently playing at Michigan State. The Minnesota native is a solid defensive forward who might be an awesome playmaker. He has an identical profile to Sherwood, but might want to develop his scoring ability. Still, his value would push the Wild excessive here.
An alternative choice is Ryder Ritchie from Boston University. He was a second-round pick within the 2024 NHL Draft. Ritchie is younger than Stramel and isn’t the identical level of defender. Still, he’s already a more refined scoring threat and a a lot better goal scorer. Offensively, his upside is larger, especially on the ability play, but he still must develop defensively.
Regardless, the Wild could make an ideal trade offer without giving up a first-round pick. The mix of a 2026 third and fourth round pick, with a 2028 second round pick, plus either Ritchie or Stramel shall be enough to send Sherwood to Minnesota.