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.

害羞草研究所淚 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, it害羞草研究所檚 a business and it害羞草研究所檚 a game of respect,害羞草研究所� Sherwood said. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e not going after guys if you don害羞草研究所檛 respect them, right? So now that we害羞草研究所檙e teammates, it害羞草研究所檚 just respect.害羞草研究所�

The 29-year-old Sherwood害羞草研究所檚 path to Vancouver wasn害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所� and he landed on speed.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 definitely something that I had to learn and kind of ingrain in myself and train. I think the saying is adapt or die,害羞草研究所� Sherwood said. 害羞草研究所淎t the end of the day, you can light up the minors all you want, but you want to be here in this league.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 want to hunt. I want to get in on the forecheck, I want to create time and space for my linemates,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd ultimately, it害羞草研究所檚 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 we害羞草研究所檙e dumping it in or forechecking, I want to get it back.害羞草研究所�

When he can害羞草研究所檛 get the puck back, Sherwood wants to wear down the other team.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 kind of the game within the game,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd it害羞草研究所檚 that fire that I害羞草研究所檓 really focused on bringing every night.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e had to look inward a little bit and try to figure out what it害羞草研究所檚 going to take, and dig deep,害羞草研究所� Sherwood said of his career. 害羞草研究所淎nd then from there, just keep refining and growing the identity that I need to play with night in and night out.害羞草研究所�

His speed and tenacity hasn害羞草研究所檛 gone unnoticed at his first Canucks training camp.

害羞草研究所淓ven the forecheck drills, always he害羞草研究所檚 moving his feet. His effort害羞草研究所檚 high,害羞草研究所� said head coach Rick Tocchet.

害羞草研究所淚 thought some of the one-on-one drills, he made some nice moves with the puck. That害羞草研究所檚 the stuff I want to see. But he害羞草研究所檚 high-energy, big-motor guy. Guys like that, they害羞草研究所檙e all over the forecheck.害羞草研究所�

Playing against Sherwood in last spring害羞草研究所檚 playoffs, Canucks captain Hughes learned that Sherwood害羞草研究所檚 playing style means opponents need to always be aware of when the winger害羞草研究所檚 on the ice.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a really good player.害羞草研究所� Hughes said. 害羞草研究所淚 think he害羞草研究所檚 got more game than people give him credit for. I害羞草研究所檓 not the coach, but I think he can play anywhere in the lineup. And I think he害羞草研究所檚 just a great addition.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 sometimes when he has (the puck), he can slow it down a bit to make a play,害羞草研究所� the coach said. 害羞草研究所淏ut 害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檇 rather him have the motor going, and we害羞草研究所檒l worry about the other stuff. And he害羞草研究所檚 a guy you can bounce around on different lines too. So it害羞草研究所檚 a luxury.害羞草研究所�