Kiefer Sherwood excels at the game within the game.

The hard-driving, hard hitting Vancouver Canucks right-winger has become a culture carrier for the manner in which he gets under the opposition skin, and contributes offensively and defensively.

He’s coming off an impressive career year with an NHL-record 462 hits, and 19 goals, including his first career hat trick. He was also third among club forwards in penalty-kill time on the league’s third-ranked unit, and a zest to be his best has never wavered.

What is all that worth? Good question.

Sherwood, 30, has a year left on his contract at a bargain US$1.5 million and a fair contract extension seems like a manner of when and not if. However, the negotiating dance can be difficult with purposeful pivots before management and player repr

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