NHL Rumor Mill – December 9, 2025
The latest on Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and winger Kiefer Sherwood in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TSN: Darren Dreger said that the Vancouver Canucks got calls from rival clubs after they sent out their memo indicating they were willing to entertain offers for their pending unrestricted free agents. Some of those teams, such as the New Jersey Devils, also inquired about their non-UFAs like Quinn Hughes, but not much more than that.
Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
Pierre LeBrun believes the big decision facing the Canucks is whether to move Hughes before the March 6 trade deadline, or wait until the offseason and attempt to re-sign the 26-year-old superstar defenseman, or peddle him at the draft.
LeBrun thinks it would be a cleaner process for the Canucks to move Hughes before the trade deadline. That means the blueliner’s agent doesn’t have to get involved, and they wouldn’t have the Hughes camp basically picking their team in July. A selling point in moving him by the trade deadline is that a team would have him for two playoff runs.
Chris Johnston said the Canucks don’t want to trade Hughes. However, their struggles this season will make it difficult for them to convince him to stay. With the standings compressed, there’s still time to save their season, but that means trying to bolster their roster.
SPORTSNET: During his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he believed the Canucks and the Detroit Red Wings discussed Hughes. He thinks that there could be a deal to be made if they want to do one.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some of these clubs seemed to be conducting due diligence regarding Hughes. The Canucks don’t appear to be shopping him at this point, and it doesn’t seem like they’re open to offers for him.
That could change later in the season if the Canucks fail to improve and Hughes is noncommittal about signing an extension next summer.
THE ATHLETIC: Meanwhile, Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported the Minnesota Wild have “significant interest” in Kiefer Sherwood. The 30-year-old Canucks winger is UFA-eligible in July.
The Wild reportedly offered the Canucks a good young prospect to suit their asking price, but the cost has been raised. They now want a good roster player and are also seeking a first-round pick.
It’s rumored the Canucks remain interested in sidelined Wild center Marco Rossi, but Russo and Smith don’t see them trading Rossi for Sherwood.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A roster player and a first-rounder is a high price for Sherwood. It’s doubtful that any club will pony up that much to get him.
The Canucks were interested in Rossi during the offseason. During his podcast on Monday, Elliotte Friedman said the Wild asked about Aatu Raty, but the Canucks didn’t want to move him because they wanted to give him a chance.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman said the Canucks asked the Philadelphia Flyers about Owen Tippett in a return for Sherwood. However, he thinks the Flyers want to hang on to the 26-year-old winger. The trade rumors may have bothered Tippett, and Friedman thinks they’re trying to tell the winger that it’s not their doing.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tippett’s been the subject of trade conjecture since the summer. However, the Flyers believe the three-time 20-goal scorer has 30-goal potential. He’s got another six seasons remaining on his contract, so they think he can elevate his game to another level.
I am high on Sherwood.
Lots of teams would like Sherwood but I dont see any to make the trade thinking he is now a goal scorer or that his uptake in goals will be sustainable.
I get Vancouver looking to sell high as they should but but a late first closer to the deadline may be the ceiling if they get the right team calling and he stays productive on the scoresheet til then.
Sherwood is good but isn’t worth a first and a roster player, maybe if he signs a fair deal as part of the trade, like 4,5 times 5. Otherwise a first and a b+ prospect
Agree, unless Hughes verbally agrees to a new contract in early 26, the time to trade him is before the trade deadline
Agree, time to trade any pending UFA who is refusing to resign prior to TD. We went thru this ‘circus’ with Pajama Boy. That should be a lesson to an entire NHL, othewise, they will be Tavaresed.
Thinking the bidding for Hughes would be greater next summer as teams would have more cap space. But those with space now, namely Chi, SJ and Detroit have the space and the assets necessary to make a great offer and get the Nucks a great return now! Why wait when the inevitable is in plain view? Jimmy Rutherford is also known to make “early” major deals.
Johnny, the bidding would be higher on Hughes during the summer also because teams would be able to sign him to an extension at that time. They couldn’t at the deadline. Rather they have him for two playoff runs they could have him for nine.
Johnny, 100% agree trade him now so the teams gets him for two cup runs, but the big boys have already traded this years 1st round picks Col,Vegas,Dal,Car,Tamp,Ed,Tor,Flo all have traded their 26 picks, Someone like Chi,SJ Det could land Quinn and sale him on a new contract by pitching look at all this team for the next 5 years
Sherwood found his niche in Vancouver. He couldn’t score on the Avalanche but in fairness I don’t think he got much of a chance. I don’t think he is worth a 1st and another roster player; especially after he is finding the score sheet for really the first time in his career. He was on the Avalanche and ducks I think. Possibly another team? Playing his best for Vancouver. Maybe he is just blossoming in his career. Interesting
tommy boy, here’s a capsule look at his career to date.
Never drafted, he’s on his 4th team since breaking into the NHL with Anaheim 7 seasons ago in 2018-19. For his career, he’s played a total of 295 NHL games with 55g 59a 114pts, for 82-game averages of 15g 16a 31pts.
With Anaheim he played 77 games with their AHL team scoring 24g 19a 43pts and for the Ducks he played 60 games with6g 7a 13pts for 82-game averages of 8g 10a 18pts.
With Colorado he played 67 games with their AHL team, scoring 46g 45a 91pts but couldn’t bring that sort of production to the Avalanche where he played 27 games scoring 1g 4a 5pts for 82-game averages of 3g 12a 15pts.
With Nashville he played 42 games with their AHL team, scoring 22g 16a 38pts and for the Predators he played exactly 100 games, scoring 17g 23a 40pts, for 82-game averages of 14g 19a 33pts,
He has yet to be sent to the minors by the Canucks where he’s played 108 games scoring 31g 25a 56pts for 82-game averages of 24g 19a 43pts.
He turns 31 in March. I guess the question is, does the modest increase in production at each stop warrant a 1st round pick and a roster player? I suppose part of the answer would depend on where the team dealing for him expects to land in the drafting order next Spring.
As to his cap history, he’s never been part of a trade. Anaheim signed him to a 2-year deal @ $925,000 per, but chose not to tend him a qualifying offer when due, making him a free agent in 2020.
Colorado signed him to a 1-year 2-way deal, and did so again in July 2021 – both times ate $750,000 per.
As a free agent again before the 2022-23 season, he signed another 1-year 2-way deal with Nashville @ $750,000 per.
A free agent again in 2024, he signed with Vancouver, this time getting a 2-year deal at $1.5 mil per.
So, if Minnesota, as indicated above, has “significant interest” in Sherwood, their 1st would be somewhere down around the 28th pick – if the Wild maintain their pace. Is relinquishing that worth the potential return and, if they think so, would that satisfy Vancouver – insofar as the 1st round pick is concerned? Who the roster player is in the deal might depend upon that factor.
yeah george, i suppose you’re right on but i think that’s and over ask for his production despite the increase in productivity re: 1st and roster player/ or prospect. i guess someone will think it’s worth it and could be the best thing they ever did, who knows?