Breaking: Vegas Golden Knights Shocked The Hockey World By Acquiring A Prominent Player That Is Expected To……See more

In a shocking move that sent shockwaves across the hockey world last season, the Golden Knights acquired Tomas Hertl from the San Jose Sharks in the closing seconds before the 3PM Eastern deadline.

You wouldn’t have guessed that Hertl was on the market or being shopped before the day even started. Hertl, who signed an eight-year contract with San Jose in the summer of 2022, was just thirty years old at the time. Hertl had only played in 48 games with the Sharks due to an injury when the deal was made. Until his Knights debut against the Canucks on April 8th, he was on long-term injured reserve. Hertl continued his Knights career by appearing in seven playoff games and five more regular season games.

Given that Hertl only appeared in six games during the regular season for Vegas, it may be seen as an off-season acquisition for the Knights this summer. Now that Hertl is healthy, the Knights are crossing their fingers that he can finally blossom into the player they had in mind when they traded for him. With six regulars gone from the forward position, the Knights will be counting on Hertl’s performance to make up the difference.

What matters is the method of Hertl’s deployment. Even though Hertl is a born center, the Knights also have William Karlsson and Jack Eichel who play center ice. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has the option of moving Hertl to the wing and utilizing Nicolas Roy, another player with a natural center stroke, as the team’s third-line pivot. With his health back and a complete training camp under his belt, Hertl is expected to deliver the Golden Knights the offensive production that made him a star in San Jose. His usage will depend on the situation.

With 220 goals, 268 assists, and 488 points in 718 games played, Hertl has an impressive career stat line.