Confirmed with Link: Tomas Hertl 17% retained, 2025 3rd, 2027 3rd to Vegas for C David Edstrom, 2025 1st

[Hodge]

Kelly McCrimmon himself just said Vegas "paid for retention" which confirms my thoughts that the difference in value between 1st+Edstrom and our two 3rds was the price for retaining ~$1.4M/yr for 6 years. Hertl at full price has no trade value.

 

[Jargon]

You know it's possible for the Sharks to get likeable young players that are actually still good at hockey right? Will Smith definitely seems like an extremely likeable person.

Will Smith, Musty, Eklund, Zetterlund and Muhk all seem very likable. Eklund is definitely the new Hertl for me, charm-wise.

 

[Pavelski2112]

I honestly can't think of a team whose 1st rounder I'd rather have than Las Vegas. The literally won't be able to keep half their team this summer.

We said that in 2022 when they missed the playoffs, then they immediately won the Cup the next season

 

[coooldude]

He had to be moved but its really hard to care about anything Sharks related. So happy for him too though.

I really worry about the Sharks future in SJ.

Party round!

I worried about the Sharks future in SJ, until I thought and read more about it. We're going to be fine.

1st in 2025 LOOOOOL GRIER JFC.

This is absolutely horrific. Sharks won't be in SJ by the time the rebuild is over.

Better than their 1st in 2024. Weak draft after ~20.

Sigh. This is a good return. I just hate it.

I hear ya. Even with the 3rds this is kinda how I feel.

While well written and true, Grier has really put the team in a predicament where if none of these picks work out it could have dire consequence for the organization. He's sacrificed the human element of fandomship for the proper business decisions for the organization, but it's also going to make most casual fans a little more impatient for positive signs.

Yes, it totally sucks. But this move is what we should have done in 2020, which also would have been sacrificing the human element of fandomship -- not everyone was emotionally ready to let go of that last generation, but we should have. Living through that is why I'm more OK with this move.

I honestly can't think of a team whose 1st rounder I'd rather have than Las Vegas. The literally won't be able to keep half their team this summer.

A rare agree from me!

 

[TheBeard]

I honestly can't think of a team whose 1st rounder I'd rather have than Las Vegas. The literally won't be able to keep half their team this summer.

The team has 18 players locked up and I have no doubt March will be back on a team friendly deal.

 

[Gecklund]

I honestly can't think of a team whose 1st rounder I'd rather have than Las Vegas. The literally won't be able to keep half their team this summer.

Yeah I mean we’ve said that for years and they come back and exceed all expectations.

 

[Kcoyote3]

Really enjoyed this, good write up. I liked what you had to say about Edstrom on Twitter, can you elaborate more on what you think he can be, ceiling/floor-wise?

Quick thinking, moves around the ice like an NHLer even if he doesn't have blazing speed, his size and play matches an NHLer. Really can dominate the net front. He's a very solid prospect. He is one of those guys that feels like an NHL center that can really cement himself into a lineup with timely goals and smart plays. He's a third line center in the making. Doesn't have the standout skills or what have you to be a top 6 though. You'd really hope for a top 6 projected player for Hertl but it just wasn't going to happen with his contract, age, injury history.

 

[TheBeard]

Yes, it totally sucks. But this move is what we should have done in 2020, which also would have been sacrificing the human element of fandomship -- not everyone was emotionally ready to let go of that last generation, but we should have. Living through that is why I'm more OK with this move.

I 100% agree it should have been done in 2020, however it's a harder pill for the fanbase to swallow now because of what we've endured the last couple of years. If this would have happened prior to bottoming out fans would be a lot more understanding (I think).

 

[Alaskanice]

Quick thinking, moves around the ice like an NHLer even if he doesn't have blazing speed, his size and play matches an NHLer. Really can dominate the net front. He's a very solid prospect. He is one of those guys that feels like an NHL center that can really cement himself into a lineup with timely goals and smart plays. He's a third line center in the making. Doesn't have the standout skills or what have you to be a top 6 though. You'd really hope for a top 6 projected player for Hertl but it just wasn't going to happen with his contract, age, injury history.

Could’ve been worse. Maybe he’ll shine.

 

[Jargon]

Quick thinking, moves around the ice like an NHLer even if he doesn't have blazing speed, his size and play matches an NHLer. Really can dominate the net front. He's a very solid prospect. He is one of those guys that feels like an NHL center that can really cement himself into a lineup with timely goals and smart plays. He's a third line center in the making. Doesn't have the standout skills or what have you to be a top 6 though. You'd really hope for a top 6 projected player for Hertl but it just wasn't going to happen with his contract, age, injury history.

Got it. I’m curious why we need two Bystedts but I guess if Bystedt plays wing, we can have a giant 3rd line that can take over games. That’d be nice.

 

[PattyLafontaine]

Sharks can't eat salary on a potential trade of Couture next year because they're already using all 3 retention spots.

Couture is done and may be an injury retirement.

"Trading our #1c in his prime with retention AND draft picks for a late first in a draft 2 years from now is good, actually"

- Sharks """fans """" on HFboards, 2024.

NHL prime is 23-26 not 30. Hertl has had several knee surgies is out with ...guess what ... a knee injury.

Hertl's contract was an absolute anchor. Grier got of out if with minimal retrintion and 19 year okayish propsect and a first round pick on an underwater contract.

 

[slocal]

Will Smith, Musty, Eklund, Zetterlund and Muhk all seem very likable. Eklund is definitely the new Hertl for me, charm-wise.

I'm going to need to see more Eklund pre-game candy trades before I feel that way. Getting close, though.

 

[timorous me]

While well written and true, Grier has really put the team in a predicament where if none of these picks work out it could have dire consequence for the organization. He's sacrificed the human element of fandomship for the proper business decisions for the organization, but it's also going to make most casual fans a little more impatient for positive signs.

What's the alternative, though--holding onto all these aging vets who, as we've seen, couldn't put together even a mediocre season together over the past few years? It's a hell of a bandage to rip off--it feels more like Steve Carell in The 40-Year-Old Virgin getting waxed right about now--but the real problem is that Wilson and Will refused to face reality and Grier was left with a total mess.

It reminds me of when I saw a big rig carrying tomatoes crashed near Sacramento and they had to close an entire side of I-80 because you couldn't get through those tomatoes. Grier is basically trying to cook a sauce right now with tomatoes that have been sitting on the road for a few hours and, you know, it's going to be pretty f***ing gross for a while.

I REALLY wish Hertl weren't going to Vegas, but there's a lot of logic to the move and looking right now at what outside observers are saying (the three writers judging it for The Athletic, for instance), Grier actually did well. His grades from those three writers? A, A, A-.

 

[coooldude]

Got it. I’m curious why we need two Bystedts but I guess if Bystedt plays wing, we can have a giant 3rd line that can take over games. That’d be nice.

He probably really, really wants a 6'3" to 6'4" dominant third line center like Andrew Ladd (showing my age), and he's willing to take two swings at that. Neither of them are their final form yet... we either get lucky and both get there and we trade one, or one of two makes it, or neither makes it, but it was worth a shot.

 

[Jargon]

I 100% agree it should have been done in 2020, however it's a harder pill for the fanbase to swallow now because of what we've endured the last couple of years. If this would have happened prior to bottoming out fans would be a lot more understanding (I think).

Ultimately I blame you for saying nothing was going to happen this deadline. What were you thinking?!

I actually think, in lieu of doing it in 2020 which is absolutely when it should’ve been done, now is the best time. We’re already downtrodden — rip off the band aid now, start building the team back up this summer.

 

[DrFeelgood]

I haven't read through this whole thread, but trying to think about this objectively either now or during the offseason was the best time to move him if that was in the plans. He has a 3 team NMC that kicks in next year and moving him would've been much more difficult, this is probably the best time to get the most value out of him. Wish it was somewhere other than Vegas, and the two thirds seems like a bit much, but i'm hoping this looks like a much better trade in a couple of years.

 

[Jargon]

He probably really, really wants a 6'3" to 6'4" dominant third line center like Andrew Ladd (showing my age), and he's willing to take two swings at that. Neither of them are their final form yet... we either get lucky and both get there and we trade one, or one of two makes it, or neither makes it, but it was worth a shot.

Yeah, fair. I also saw talk about Bystedt being possibly better at wing. Imagine a line of Bystedt - Edstrom - Zetterlund. That’s a pretty great 3rd line.

Man, if we could get Celebrini this summer…

 

[Pavelski2112]

Yeah, fair. I also saw talk about Bystedt being possibly better at wing. Imagine a line of Bystedt - Edstrom - Zetterlund. That’s a pretty great 3rd line.

Man, if we could get Celebrini this summer…

Maybe now that we gave Vegas an even better chance to win and DW isn't our GM anymore, the league will finally rig something for us for once

 

[PattyLafontaine]

All anyone has to do is look back at similar trades and compare the returns to see that Grier came nowhere close to gaining historical value back in return for Hertl, and this has become a trend with him.

Meier was a wash at best. Every other transaction involving Grier has been nothing short of a God damned embarrassment.

What are you talking about? What historical value for a Center with multiple knee injuries whose best season was 74 pts in 77 games and he's only crossed 60pts two other times.

I like Hertl and his game, but his contract was awful.

Grier picked up a 19 year old prospect and 1st round pick with small retention.

This was a fleecing given the Sharks situation. Even if the prospect and pick do not pan out the Sharks are out from an atrocious contract.

 

[Jargon]

Maybe now that we gave Vegas an even better chance to win and DW isn't our GM anymore, the league will finally rig something for us for once

I don’t believe the lottery is rigged but if there’s one team who desperately deserves a rigged win, it’s the Sharks.

 

[Karl Prime]

Stranger things have happened than Vegas not making the playoffs in 2025. They are currently the 2nd WC team after having a disastrous last month. Having Eichel, Stone, and Hertl suffer injuries, Hill regressing, the depth not being as good ... Marchessault, Stephenson, and Hanifin are UFAs (and are surely all getting raises, from LV or elsewhere). They are all in this year. They are a relatively older team with the only core pieces under 30 being Eichel (27), Barbashev (28), Theodore (28), Hanifin (27), and Stephenson (29).

It is too bad that Hertl had to go to Vegas, with the history between the two teams, but it's not like they will be getting the Hertl of 2016-2022. It wouldn't surprise me if Hertl played less than 75% of the games remaining in his contract.

With Smith, Eklund, Musty, Mukhamadullin, Bystedt, Edstrom, and the high 2024 1st and likely high 2025 1st, there is a lot of young talent to follow. Let me tell you as a Sens fan that it was hard seeing the tear down from 2018-2020 but it's been fun to see the development of Stutzle, Tkachuk, and Sanderson. (Hopefully for SJ if a few of those guys become big hits they aren't still languishing at the bottom of the conference 4 years after).

 

[Kcoyote3]

Got it. I’m curious why we need two Bystedts but I guess if Bystedt plays wing, we can have a giant 3rd line that can take over games. That’d be nice.

Bystedt has a stride and some puck skills that Edstrom doesn't, and I think there was a moment when you could squint and see Bystedt becoming more than a 3C. But this entire year he hasn't shown that he can generate offense like he should. Edstrom does though. He's really effective in how he plays and keeps on getting better.

 

[coooldude]

The Athletic thinks the Sharks did well but the Kniggets did well-er.

 

[Alaskanice]

View attachment 832795

The Athletic thinks the Sharks did well but the Kniggets did well-er.

Only because Hertl adds to their really good team.

 

[Jargon]

Bystedt has a stride and some puck skills that Edstrom doesn't, and I think there was a moment when you could squint and see Bystedt becoming more than a 3C. But this entire year he hasn't shown that he can generate offense like he should. Edstrom does though. He's really effective in how he plays and keeps on getting better.

Do you think there’s a world where Edstrom is a top 6 guy, or you think absolute ceiling is high-end 3C?