It sounds like Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams better be willing to pay a king's ransom if he wants to make a marquee addition well before the 2026 NHL trade deadline in March.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported the asking price for Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood, who was recently linked to the Sabres, is a "first-round draft pick and another asset."
The Canucks are "willing to wait to see when a team is willing to pay a premium for him," according to Pagnotta, despite speculation about a potential full-scale fire sale after their slow start to the 2025-26 campaign.
Sherwood has tallied 12 goals in 27 appearances for Vancouver this season after recording a career-high 40 points in 2024-25.
Buffalo Sabres should steer clear of a Kiefer Sherwood trade with the Vancouver Canucks due to high cost
Quite simply, Sherwood isn't even worth a selection in the early-to-middle first round let alone adding another piece, likely a highly regarded prospect, to the package.
It'd be one thing if the Ohio native was a young player on the rise. That's not the case. He's already 30, a late bloomer who finally found a comfort zone in Vancouver, and he'll likely be looking for a considerable raise from his current $1.5 million salary as an impending unrestricted free agent.
Giving up a pick in the draft's opening round — surely a protected selection in Buffalo's case since it couldn't risk giving up a potential top-five lottery choice — along with a prospect for a player with a limited track record of success would be a massive risk.
In addition, Sherwood's analytic metrics are concerning.
The veteran winger has compiled a 45.8% 5-on-5 expected goals for percentage (xGF%) since the start of last season, which ranks 23rd among 28 Canucks forwards over that period, per Natural Stat Trick.
So, even though his baseline numbers suggest he could provide a middle-six scoring boost, the underlying numbers hint that's far from a guarantee.
The Sabres' front office, led by Adams, can't be sure Sherwood would even represent a clear upgrade over the frustratingly inconsistent Jack Quinn.
Yet, even if Adams should pass on the Canucks trade candidate, that doesn't mean he shouldn't be actively hunting upgrades on the market.
Buffalo has started to play far better hockey in recent weeks. It's allowed the club to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement and within four points of third place in the Atlantic Division, so the sole focus should be trying to end the franchise's miserable 14-year playoff drought.
A high-end winger who could help not only deepen the Blue and Gold's even-strength scoring options, but also boost a power play that runs ice cold far too often would provide a significant boost.
Sherwood doesn't fit in that category, however, and given the Canucks' asking price, he should be removed from the Sabres' list of possible targets. At least for now.