Vegas acquires Tomas Hertl in blockbuster commerce with Sharks

The Vegas Golden Knights obtained a blockbuster commerce in beneath the wire Friday, buying ahead Tomas Hertl, a 2025 third-round choose and 2027 third-round selection from the San Jose Sharks in trade for a 2025 first-round choose and ahead David Edstrom (Vegas’ first-round draft selection in 2023). The Sharks may even retain 17% of Hertl’s wage.

Hertl has six seasons remaining on an eight-year, $65.1 million contract he signed in March 2022. The Sharks holding again 17% of Hertl’s wage leaves his cap hit at $6.75 million for Vegas to hold. The 30-year-old additionally had a full no-move clause he would have needed to waive to hitch the Golden Knights. However Hertl will not be stepping proper into their lineup. The veteran has been sidelined since having surgical procedure Feb. 12 to scrub out free cartilage in his left knee. Expectations are that he can be able to return in time for the playoffs.

Transferring from San Jose to Vegas takes Hertl from one of many NHL’s worst groups this season to a official contender. And whereas the Sharks have struggled all through the season — and sit thirty first total — Hertl has performed nicely, amassing 15 targets and 34 factors in 48 video games. He is a powerful two-way skater who tasks to be a top-six middle for the Golden Knights now, contributing at 5-on-5 and particular groups, successful puck battles, and wielding playmaking talents to enhance Vegas’ arsenal of established gamers that guided the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup win final spring.

The Hertl commerce was Vegas’ second huge swing forward of Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline. The Golden Knights acquired defenseman Noah Hanifin earlier within the week from Calgary to bolster their blueline as nicely. In an attention-grabbing twist, the commerce for Hertl additionally impacted the situations on Hanifin — as an alternative of the Flames receiving a top-10-protected 2025 first-round choose (which Vegas simply swapped to San Jose) for the defenseman, they’ll now get an unconditional first-round selection in 2026.

The Golden Knights additionally added ahead Anthony Mantha to beef up their offensive depth.

In San Jose’s case, transport Hertl to Vegas does clear some cap room. However per CapFriendly knowledge, retaining wage on the six years Hertl has left means the Sharks have now used their league-allotted three slots for trade-related wage retention in 2024-25 and two slots in every of 2025-26 and 2026-27. That can affect how San Jose — nicely right into a rebuild that would final for years — can dealer transactions over the subsequent few seasons.

On Vegas’ finish, it had no projected wage cap area earlier than grabbing Hertl and should work out tips on how to match his hit into the group’s long-term plans. Since Hertl is injured now and there’s no wage cap compliance mandated within the postseason, the Knights can keep away from ironing out that state of affairs till earlier than subsequent season.