NHL Rumors: Tomáš Hertl Traded to Golden Knights from Sharks at 2024 Deadline
March 8, 2024
After 11 seasons with the Sharks, Tomáš Hertl is reportedly leaving San Jose.
The Vegas Golden Knights are acquiring Hertl in a last-minute trade deadline deal, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie (h/t Pierre LeBrun).
The move is "still pending trade call," LeBrun reported.
Hertl will cost the Golden Knights $6.75 million after the Sharks retain 17 percent of his salary, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
The Sharks will receive 2023 first-round pick David Edstrom as well as a 2025 first-round pick, while Vegas will acquire third-round picks in 2025 and 2027, according to Dreger:
Hertl has 15 goals and 19 assists in 48 games this season. He last played on Jan. 27 and underwent knee surgery in early February.
Although the Sharks had not yet given a timeline for Hertl's return, LeBrun reported the forward is expected to return before the playoffs.
The Golden Knights also lost an additional 2026 first-round pick as part of the trade due to conditions in a previous deal, per CapFriendly.
CapFriendly @CapFriendlyDraft condition update:<br><br>Since Vegas moved the 2025 1st round pick as a part of the Hertl trade, Calgary <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> will now receive Vegas' 2026 1st round pick from the Noah Hanifin trade. <a href="https://t.co/1E8Zf1mNvx">pic.twitter.com/1E8Zf1mNvx</a>
Hertl isn't the only notable addition joining the team in Vegas this week.
The Golden Knights on Tuesday acquired Washington Capitals winger Anthony Mantha.
The following day, Vegas added Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin on Wednesday in a three-team trade involving the Philadelphia Flyers.
Even for a team known for trade-deadline blockbusters, like the 2019 deal for former Ottawa Senator and current team captain Mark Stone, it's been a busy trade deadline week for the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Vince Sapienza @VinceSapienzaGolden Knights Trade Deadlines:<br><br>2018 - Reaves, Tatar<br>2019 - Stone<br>2020 - Martinez, Lehner<br>2021 - Janmark<br>2022 - (Traded for Eichel earlier in the year)<br>2023 - Barbashev, Quick<br>2024 - Hanifin, Hertl, Mantha<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VegasBorn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VegasBorn</a>
Hertl was being deployed as a top-line center in San Jose. The Golden Knights could potentially bolster their center depth behind Jack Eichel and William Karlsson by playing him on the third line.
He also has experience as a winger, and the Knights could alternatively bolster their top-six scoring by adding both Hertl and Mantha on the wings of the top two lines.
Meanwhile the Sharks, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for a league-bottom 37 points on the season, will begin their rebuild with adding Edstrom and an upcoming first-rounder to their prospect pool. Edstrom is currently in his second season in the Swedish League, where he has 17 points in 42 games.
With Hertl's exit, the Sharks have said goodbye to almost every member of the team's former core. After sending off Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier, only Logan Couture and Marc-Edouard Vlasic are left from the team that made it to the franchise's first Stanley Cup Final in 2016.
