Kiefer Sherwood spent several nights last spring chasing Quinn Hughes around the ice and generally pestering the Vancouver Canucks.
Now the former Nashville Predators winger is wearing a Canucks jersey.
After signing with Vancouver in free agency, Sherwood is at training camp in Penticton, B.C., lining up against the players he frustrated in the first round of the playoffs last season.
His former foes have welcomed him welcomed with open arms.
B次元官网网址淚 try to be hard to play against and try to hate the other team and play with that hate and that fire. But at the end of the day, itB次元官网网址檚 a business and itB次元官网网址檚 a game of respect,B次元官网网址� Sherwood said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e not going after guys if you donB次元官网网址檛 respect them, right? So now that weB次元官网网址檙e teammates, itB次元官网网址檚 just respect.B次元官网网址�
The 29-year-old SherwoodB次元官网网址檚 path to Vancouver wasnB次元官网网址檛 linear.
A six-foot, 194-pound forward from Columbus, Ohio, he went undrafted before signing with the Anaheim Ducks as a free agent in March 2018, and played 50 games for the team during the 2018-19 campaign.
But Sherwood struggled to stick in the NHL, bouncing back and forth between the minors during stints with Anaheim, Nashville and the Colorado Avalanche.
Eventually, he realized that to cement his spot, he needed to find what made him special B次元官网网址� and he landed on speed.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely something that I had to learn and kind of ingrain in myself and train. I think the saying is adapt or die,B次元官网网址� Sherwood said. B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, you can light up the minors all you want, but you want to be here in this league.B次元官网网址�
To hone his speed, Sherwood added more dynamic movement to his training regime, looking to create a new level of explosiveness in his skating.
That explosiveness is the key to winning puck battles, he said.
B次元官网网址淚 want to hunt. I want to get in on the forecheck, I want to create time and space for my linemates,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd ultimately, itB次元官网网址檚 a possession game too. So I want the puck on our tape and to get it to guys that can make plays. We value the puck, we value possession, we value plays. And if weB次元官网网址檙e dumping it in or forechecking, I want to get it back.B次元官网网址�
When he canB次元官网网址檛 get the puck back, Sherwood wants to wear down the other team.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of the game within the game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 that fire that IB次元官网网址檓 really focused on bringing every night.B次元官网网址�
Last season marked a career-best campaign for Sherwood, who put up 10 goals and 17 assists in 68 regular-season appearances for Nashville.
He also appeared in all six of the Predators post-season games and contributed a goal before the team was eliminated by the Canucks.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had to look inward a little bit and try to figure out what itB次元官网网址檚 going to take, and dig deep,B次元官网网址� Sherwood said of his career. B次元官网网址淎nd then from there, just keep refining and growing the identity that I need to play with night in and night out.B次元官网网址�
His speed and tenacity hasnB次元官网网址檛 gone unnoticed at his first Canucks training camp.
B次元官网网址淓ven the forecheck drills, always heB次元官网网址檚 moving his feet. His effortB次元官网网址檚 high,B次元官网网址� said head coach Rick Tocchet.
B次元官网网址淚 thought some of the one-on-one drills, he made some nice moves with the puck. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the stuff I want to see. But heB次元官网网址檚 high-energy, big-motor guy. Guys like that, theyB次元官网网址檙e all over the forecheck.B次元官网网址�
Playing against Sherwood in last springB次元官网网址檚 playoffs, Canucks captain Hughes learned that SherwoodB次元官网网址檚 playing style means opponents need to always be aware of when the wingerB次元官网网址檚 on the ice.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a really good player.B次元官网网址� Hughes said. B次元官网网址淚 think heB次元官网网址檚 got more game than people give him credit for. IB次元官网网址檓 not the coach, but I think he can play anywhere in the lineup. And I think heB次元官网网址檚 just a great addition.B次元官网网址�
Tocchet also believes Sherwood could have more offensive upside to his game, noting that the Canucks coaching staff has identified some places they want the new addition to work on his game.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 sometimes when he has (the puck), he can slow it down a bit to make a play,B次元官网网址� the coach said. B次元官网网址淏ut B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檇 rather him have the motor going, and weB次元官网网址檒l worry about the other stuff. And heB次元官网网址檚 a guy you can bounce around on different lines too. So itB次元官网网址檚 a luxury.B次元官网网址�
