In a late-deadline blockbuster, the San Jose Sharks sent 30-year-old center Tomas Hertl, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights for a 2025 first-round pick and prospect David Edstrom. Hertl’s contract comes at 17 percent retention, putting him at $6.75 million each season.
Hertl is currently on injured reserve, but the hope is that he will be ready by the time the playoffs start in April. What makes this move so huge for the Golden Knights? As for the Sharks, what are they getting back, and how does this move look for them?
Hertl Gives Vegas Sensational Center Depth
What makes this trade ideal for the Golden Knights is that it is an acquisition for both now and the future. He has seven seasons left on his hefty contract, so it’s definitely a big commitment. And it’s one that will give the Golden Knights arguably the best depth at center among any team in the NHL.
Jack Eichel has three seasons left on his contract, William Karlsson has four, and Nicolas Roy has four as well. Clearly, the team is building their offense through the center position. With the salary cap rising to $87.7 million in 2024-25, the Golden Knights will have just over 29 percent of their total salary tied up in these four players.
At this point in his career, what can Hertl bring? Why was Vegas so willing to spend a fortune to acquire him?
Playing with a Sharks team right near the bottom of the NHL standings hasn’t quite helped Hertl produce any offense. The team around him wasn’t all that great, but he did have 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 46 games in 2023-24 on 20:54 of average ice time. Over a full 82-game season, that would place him over the 60-point threshold, one that he reached in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The Sharks’ highest win total since they last made the playoffs in 2018-19 was just 32, so they’ve had plenty of poor campaigns. That doesn’t reflect particularly well on Hertl’s on-ice stats, but they should be taken with a grain of salt considering where the Sharks are as a team. He only had a 44.6 percent expected goals percentage at even strength, but that’s actually sixth on his team among 21 forwards.
Looking at individual numbers, Hertl showed his true colors. Among forwards at even strength,…
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