Instant Reaction: Sharks Stun Hockey World; Tomas Hertl Traded To Golden Knights
The San Jose Sharks shocked the NHL world by trading Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade deadline blockbuster.
Dean Tait - Hockey Shots - Instant Reaction: Sharks Stun Hockey World; Tomas Hertl Traded To Golden KnightsThe San Jose Sharks shocked the NHL world by trading Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights in a blockbuster trade deadline deal.
San Jose also traded two third-round picks in 2025 and 2027. In return, the Sharks received a 2023 first-round pick, David Edstrom, and a 2025 first-round pick. The Sharks are retaining 17% of Hertl's contract.
"It's an extremely hard day when you have to trade a player like Tomas Hertl," Grier said in a press release. "It's rare to find the combination he brings in talent as a player on the ice and quality as a person off the ice. While difficult, this trade brings us two high-quality assets which includes an additional future first round draft selection and a promising young center in Edstrom, as well as significant financial flexibility as we continue to re-shape our roster. While we continue the process of rebuilding our team on the ice to the standard our fans deserve, Tomas deserves the chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. Tomas will be missed but his time and contributions to the Sharks franchise, and our fans, will never be forgotten. We wish him his wife, Aneta, and his two children the very best in this next chapter of their journey."
This trade came out of nowhere and was reported minutes before the noon deadline.
David Edstrom is a top prospect currently playing in Sweden. The 6'3, 190 lbs center could become a solid NHL player.
"His stride is a little stilted and he's not a great skater (I think it was overrated in his draft year and he has talked to me about the need to work on it), but he's good in a very effective kind of way. He can also play with power or play with skill, which blends to allow him to take pucks off the wall to the inside and then execute in congested areas in ways you wouldn't necessarily expect out of a 6-foot-3 player. He'll make a soft-area play one second, a play in tight to his body the next, and then drive out of those plays the next. At an early age, it's also clear he has a really mature understanding of how to use his size to his advantage. He looks to dictate with his length and knows how to position himself against defenders. He's decent on entries and will hold pucks but can also play off of his linemates. It's not flashy but Edstrom projects as a solid third-line centre who can potentially contribute on both special teams," Scott Wheeler wrote about Edstrom on the Athletic.
Hertl is injured but is expected to return before the end of the regular season and be fully ready to play for the Golden Knights in the postseason.
Hertl is 30 and in the second year of an eight-year contract. With this move, the Sharks are fully committing to rebuilding the franchise from the ground up.
The Sharks have needed draft capital and have now garnered more with the Hertl trade.
Off the ice, Hertl presented the Sharks with a fun-loving attitude and leadership. This move has caused shock and sadness to fans and players. Long-time defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic tweeted his reaction.
Fans on Twitter have shared their reaction. Click the tweet below to read comments from Sharks fans.
Mike Grier will meet with the media sometime this afternoon to discuss this trade and the rest of his deadline moves.
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