Kiefer Sherwood traded to Sharks as Canucks land Cole Clayton and two second-round picks

Kiefer Sherwood is headed to the San Jose Sharks after Vancouver dealt the winger on Monday, January 19, 2026, in a trade that sends defenseman Cole Clayton and second-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027 to the Canucks.

The move reshapes the middle of both organizations: San Jose adds an established NHL forward for an immediate push, while Vancouver converts a productive roster piece into future assets and a right-shot defenseman who has been logging pro minutes in the AHL.

Trade details

San Jose receives:

• Forward Kiefer Sherwood

Vancouver receives:

• Defenseman Cole Clayton

• San Jose’s 2026 second-round pick

• San Jose’s 2027 second-round pick

Who is Kiefer Sherwood?

Sherwood, 30, has been one of Vancouver’s most productive depth scorers this season. Through 44 games in 2025–26, he recorded 17 goals and 23 points.

He arrives in San Jose as a plug-and-play winger who can score without needing top-line usage, giving the Sharks more finishing in their middle-six and another NHL-ready option for matchup-heavy games down the stretch.

Who is Cole Clayton?

Clayton, 25, is a right-shot defenseman listed at 6-foot-2 who has spent most of his pro career in the AHL. This season, he has appeared in 33 games for the San Jose Barracuda, posting 2 goals and 5 points.

He’s an undrafted defender whose path has been built on steady pro minutes and incremental steps, and the trade gives him a clearer lane into a new organization’s depth chart while also providing Vancouver an additional defense option for call-ups.

Why the deal matters for both teams

For the Sharks, this is a clear “buy” decision: two second-round picks plus a defense prospect is a meaningful price for a winger, and it signals confidence that Sherwood’s scoring translates into tangible wins in the second half.

For the Canucks, the return balances short-term flexibility with long-term value. Two second-round selections expand draft capital across consecutive years, and Clayton adds a right-shot defense profile to the system without waiting for a draft pick’s development curve.

What to watch next

• How quickly Sherwood slots into San Jose’s top nine and special-teams usage

• Whether Vancouver assigns Clayton to the AHL immediately or keeps him as an injury-ready depth option

• If either team follows this move with additional trades before the deadline, given the size of the pick-based return and what it suggests about their priorities