Golden Knights Tomas Hertl could be asked to do the unthinkable by his coach
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Tomas Hertl is a very versatile player as we've seen in his previous seasons with the San Jose Sharks. Bruce Cassidy may now force him to play multiple positions.
In March, when the Vegas Golden Knights traded for Tomas Hertl from the San Jose Sharks, they knew they added a seasoned veteran of the NHL. In 11 years, he had amassed an impressive statistical record of 220 goals and 268 assists. Much more than just a scorer, Hertl also came with a very physical edge to his game and had recorded 768 hits throughout his career. The Golden Knights added more than just a player; they added a proven performer with a pretty well-rounded skill set.
In reality, the trade was viewed as a steal for Vegas. They had to give up only a first-round pick, a third-rounder in 2025, and another third-rounder in 2027 to acquire a player the caliber of Tomas Hertl. In large part due to Hertl's on-ice abilities, this was a very popular deal for the Golden Knights among their fanbase. He brings a mix of scoring and physicality that filled several key needs for a team getting ready to make yet another run at the Stanley Cup.
Obviously, getting a player like Tomas Hertl doesn't come cheap. The Sharks retained roughly 17 % of Hertl's hefty $8.1375 million salary, which is capped out until the end of the 2029-30 season. The retention made things a heck of a lot easier in terms of dollars and cents for Vegas to fit Hertl into their cap structure with relative ease. It also showed just how serious the Golden Knights were about landing a player of his caliber.
Tomas Hertl has played with multiple linemates through preseason so far, from Nicolas Roy to Alexander Holtz. Other candidates could be Victor Olofsson, Pavel Dorofeyev, or even stars such as Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev, or Brett Howden, among several other possibilities. It is this versatility that makes Hertl a major asset since he will adapt seamlessly to the constantly pivoting strategies of his team and roster. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has even hinted at potentially using Hertl in various different positions at forward, whether it be at center or on both wings.
"Right now it doesn't matter who we put on the line with him, eventually, it will, but for now we know we're going to get a good performance out of him and we can just try to find what his best fit is as we go along. For Tomas, worry about your own game, get it where it needs to be. He knows his game better than anybody, he's been in the league long enough, and I thought his game was very good tonight."
- Bruce Cassidy
- Bruce Cassidy
All in all, Tomas Hertl has all the tools to be a major contributor with the Golden Knights now that their sights are firmly set on a second Stanley Cup. Capable of moving seamlessly into a variety of different roles, he brings both a scoring touch and some physicality, which is pretty rare in the NHL. If he can keep off the injury bug, he'll no doubt be a game-changer for Vegas, who are still trying to get back from a postseason exit a little earlier than they would've liked. Adding Hertl is just the latest example of the Golden Knights trying to build a championship roster.
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