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.

含羞草研究社淚 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含羞草研究社檚 a business and it含羞草研究社檚 a game of respect,含羞草研究社� Sherwood said. 含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e not going after guys if you don含羞草研究社檛 respect them, right? So now that we含羞草研究社檙e teammates, it含羞草研究社檚 just respect.含羞草研究社�

The 29-year-old Sherwood含羞草研究社檚 path to Vancouver wasn含羞草研究社檛 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 含羞草研究社� and he landed on speed.

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

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.

含羞草研究社淚 want to hunt. I want to get in on the forecheck, I want to create time and space for my linemates,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淎nd ultimately, it含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檙e dumping it in or forechecking, I want to get it back.含羞草研究社�

When he can含羞草研究社檛 get the puck back, Sherwood wants to wear down the other team.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 kind of the game within the game,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淎nd it含羞草研究社檚 that fire that I含羞草研究社檓 really focused on bringing every night.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e had to look inward a little bit and try to figure out what it含羞草研究社檚 going to take, and dig deep,含羞草研究社� Sherwood said of his career. 含羞草研究社淎nd then from there, just keep refining and growing the identity that I need to play with night in and night out.含羞草研究社�

His speed and tenacity hasn含羞草研究社檛 gone unnoticed at his first Canucks training camp.

含羞草研究社淓ven the forecheck drills, always he含羞草研究社檚 moving his feet. His effort含羞草研究社檚 high,含羞草研究社� said head coach Rick Tocchet.

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

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

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 a really good player.含羞草研究社� Hughes said. 含羞草研究社淚 think he含羞草研究社檚 got more game than people give him credit for. I含羞草研究社檓 not the coach, but I think he can play anywhere in the lineup. And I think he含羞草研究社檚 just a great addition.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 sometimes when he has (the puck), he can slow it down a bit to make a play,含羞草研究社� the coach said. 含羞草研究社淏ut 含羞草研究社� I含羞草研究社檇 rather him have the motor going, and we含羞草研究社檒l worry about the other stuff. And he含羞草研究社檚 a guy you can bounce around on different lines too. So it含羞草研究社檚 a luxury.含羞草研究社�