The Buffalo Sabres offense, which ranks tied for 18th in the NHL in goals scored per game at 2.96, has started to receive a boost as key players return from injury, but that doesn't mean general manager Kevyn Adams shouldn't be actively searching the trade market for upgrades.
One potential target that's emerged is Vancouver Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood.
RG's James Murphy reported the Sabres were one of four Eastern Conference teams, along with the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, to speak with the Canucks about Sherwood, who Murphy described as a "highly desirable commodity."
Sherwood recorded a career-high 40 points (19 goals and 21 assists) across 78 games for Vancouver last season. He's added 12 goals in 26 appearances so far in 2025-26.
His potential departure is related to the Canucks' desire to shake up their roster as they sit 30th in the NHL standings with just 23 points (10-13-3 record). The Sabres are 29th at 24 points.
Should the Buffalo Sabres make a serious push for a Kiefer Sherwood trade with the Vancouver Canucks?
Although the Sabres could benefit from another forward with an offensive pedigree, any potential deals by Adams should focus on battle-tested stars rather than boom-or-bust forwards.
Sherwood belongs in the latter category.
While the 30-year-old Ohio native has scored 31 goals since the start of last season, he lit the lamp just 24 times in 187 contests across his first six NHL seasons. He's a late bloomer and it's no guarantee he'll continue his sudden uptick in scoring with a new organization.
The underlying numbers don't tell a promising story, either.
Sherwood ranked 18th among Canucks forwards in 5-on-5 expected goals for percentage (xGF%) last season at 47.6%, according to Natural Stat Trick. He's dipped even further to an unsightly 40.8% in that key metric so far this season.
In addition, he's generated a more modest 19.3 individual expected goals (ixG) since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, per NST. That suggests he's been finishing well above his expected rate, and he's perhaps benefiting from a little bit of puck luck.
Ultimately, it creates a situation where giving up assets for Sherwood isn't worth the risk for the Sabres despite their search for another top-six forward, which began over the summer.
His arrival would force someone like Noah Ostlund out of the lineup, and the young forward has played well during his first extensive NHL stint. It makes more sense to give players like Ostlund more opportunities unless a clear upgrade is available via trade.
Sherwood doesn't clear that bar despite his recent run of goal-scoring success, so this is a situation where Buffalo should steer clear, especially if there's a bidding war among multiple teams.
That said, Adams hunt for a true game-changing addition must continue in earnest.