Sharks trade Hertl to Las Vegas
Team acquires draft pick in move for vet
The San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights completed a stunning blockbuster deal Friday just minutes before the NHL trade deadline, with center Tomas Hertl and two third-round draft picks going to the defending Stanley Cup champions for a firstround draft pick and prospect David Edstrom.
The Sharks are receiving the Golden Knights' first-round draft pick in 2025, and Edstrom — Vegas' first-round selection last year. The third-round draft picks the Sharks are sending to the Golden Knights come in 2025 and 2027.
The Sharks are also retaining 17% of Hertl's contract, so his cap hit as a member of the Golden Knights is $6.75 million.
Hertl is in the second year of an eight-year, $65.1 million contract he signed with the Sharks in 2022. The deal carried an average annual value of $8.137 million and a full no-movement clause, which means Hertl had to approve the trade.
The Sharks and Golden Knights had been discussing a possible deal involving Hertl for some time, but questions persisted about whether the centerman would be available for the start of this year's playoffs in approximately seven weeks.
Earlier this week, though, Sharks coach David Quinn said that Hertl is “ahead of schedule” as he continues to recover from surgery he had on Feb. 12 to clean out loose cartilage in his left knee, adding that it was possible the Czech-born forward would be able to return this season.
Prior to his surgery, Hertl had a team-leading 34 points in 48 games this season.
Selected by San Jose in the