SAN JOSE – Former San Jose Sharks heart Tomas Hertl was a bit interested in what sort of reception he would get Friday evening in his return to SAP Heart.
Whereas Hertl grew to become one of many Sharks’ hottest and productive gamers in his 11 seasons in a teal uniform, he was additionally returning – for the primary time — as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose’s once-fierce rival.
“I think the rivalry kind of slipped away, but it will hopefully be good. I think it was a nice 11 years,” Hertl mentioned Friday morning when requested in regards to the reception he would possibly get. “But it’s maybe it’s up to the fans now. (There’s) nothing I can do about it really right now.”
The reception was anticipated to be constructive, contemplating Hertl had 484 factors in 712 regular-season video games for the Sharks earlier than he was traded to the Golden Knights in March. Crew officers plan to acknowledge Hertl for his time in San Jose with a pregame tribute just like those they bestowed upon longtime Sharks Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns of their first video games again in San Jose.
However whereas Hertl’s time with the Sharks is not going to be forgotten, his departure from San Jose has maybe created an advanced legacy.
Hertl might have opted to turn into an unrestricted free agent in 2022. As an alternative, he signed an eight-year, $65.1 contract extension with the Sharks, hoping the crew’s fortunes might shortly flip round after what would turn into — at that time — three years and not using a playoff look.
The Sharks, too, didn’t entertain any commerce gives for Hertl that 12 months, hoping he may very well be an organizational tent pole as they remained in a transitional section.
Nonetheless, the Sharks employed Mike Grier as their new common supervisor lower than 4 months after the deal. Grier knew that for the Sharks to turn into Stanley Cup contenders once more, he must rebuild the crew from the bottom up.
That meant taking some steps again to have the chance to draft future stars with lottery picks. Grier additionally traded some high-profile gamers on long-term contracts, corresponding to Burns, Timo Meier, and Erik Karlsson, to achieve prospects, draft capital, and release precious cap house.
Talking about Hertl and captain Logan Couture because the 2023 coaching camp started, Grier mentioned, “If there ever were to come a time when they felt like they needed or wanted to go somewhere else, it’s definitely something I would listen to, and if it made sense for us, I would explore it.”
A few of Tomas Hertl pic.twitter.com/rVUtnj0vxY
Whereas Couture, injured and out indefinitely, stays a Shark, Hertl, a playoff participant in 5 of his first six NHL seasons, knew at the moment it may very well be years earlier than he might legitimately compete for a Cup once more. He had a call to make.
Finally, Hertl, with a full no-movement clause within the first three years of his contract, determined it was finest to maneuver on and be a part of a contender. Going into Friday, the Golden Knights led the Pacific Division and the Sharks had been in eighth and final place.
“I couldn’t say one bad word about the organization, about the teammates in the locker room right away, how they (included) me in the team, even the fans around the city,” Hertl mentioned. “Obviously, when you win a lot of hockey games, everything gets pretty easy around it. I almost forgot over the last couple years, honestly, how fun is to win a lot of games.
“The last couple of years (in San Jose) was pretty tough. When you’re one of the leaders and you try to help, but the winning wasn’t coming, it wasn’t easy. So this is definitely the fun part.”
It seems Grier and Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon started speaking a few Hertl deal earlier than the all-star break, and on March 7, simply minutes earlier than the deadline, the Sharks despatched the No. 1 centerman, plus third-round picks in 2025 and 2027, to Vegas for heart prospect David Edstrom and a 2025 first-round choose.
“I just heard, like, maybe in January, before I was hurt, that (Vegas) was thinking about (trading for me) from my agent, but nothing happened,” mentioned Hertl, who injured his knee earlier in a Jan. 27 sport in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres.
Hertl participated within the NHL All-Star Sport in Toronto, and commerce talks between the Sharks and Golden Knights started to ramp up once more a number of days earlier than the deadline.
Hertl then needed to waive his no-trade clause to make it occur.
“I’m a competitive guy,” Hertl mentioned Friday. “The Sharks give me everything and they give me a great career, they’ve been always great to me. (When) the offer came, I just couldn’t say no, because I think I’m still in my prime, I can help teams win hockey games, and Vegas, they are in a great spot, a great team, and I couldn’t say no.
“Nobody can obviously guarantee you can win the Stanley Cup, but I thought there’s a chance (with Vegas), and I just want to grab it and try to fight for it.”
Hertl has a number of associates inside the Sharks’ group and nonetheless cheers for the crew.
“After our games, I will be always cheering for them because I was here so long here and I want to see them do obviously better and turn this team around,” Hertl mentioned. “But at that time I felt it could be my last chance and I was happy both sides could figure it out and work it out, and I could move.”
Initially Printed: December 27, 2024 at 2:34 PM PST
