HERTL HEADED TO VEGAS
The Vegas Golden Knights acquired center Tomas Hertl, a third-round draft pick in 2025 and a third-round draft pick in 2027 from the San Jose Sharks for center David Edstrom and a first-round draft pick in 2025.
What does it give the Vegas Golden Knights
This is a massive trade by the Golden Knights, the most aggressive team in the NHL at present time. Hertl is a very good player when healthy, but he is currently injured and will not join Vegas until the Stanley Cup playoffs (assuming they even make the playoffs). Beyond that, he is signed long term so Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon will have to find a way to fit him under the salary cap. All eyes will be on Vegas IF they make the playoffs.
What does it give the San Jose Sharks
This is a very good deal for Sharks GM Mike Grier because Hertl's contract is very long (and he has been injured). Also, the Sharks are towards the bottom of the NHL standings, so they really did not need to keep a veteran like Hertl for the long haul. Edstrom adds to their prospect stable and should be a lot closer to the NHL now that he has moved from Vegas to San Jose. The Sharks are retaining 17 percent of Hertl's salary in this deal.
Fantasy impact
Hertl is unlikely to play any regular-season games between now and the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs, so there is no need to pick him up in non-keeper formats. For keeper leaguers, Edstrom may be more intriguing than Hertl because of age and upside, but Hertl may have a good run with the Golden Knights when he becomes fully healthy.
