Tomáš Hertl (born 12 November 1993) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hertl was selected 17th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, with whom he spent his first 11 seasons. Prior to being drafted, Hertl played for HC Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).
| Tomáš Hertl | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Hertl with the San Jose Sharks in 2023 | |||
| Born |
12 November 1993 Prague, Czech Republic | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Vegas Golden Knights HC Slavia Praha San Jose Sharks | ||
| National team |
 Czech Republic | ||
| NHL draft |
17th overall, 2012 San Jose Sharks | ||
| Playing career | 2011–present | ||
He is the first player born in the modern Czech Republic after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia to appear in an NHL game.[citation needed]
Playing career
editEarly career
editHertl started his playing career with HC Slavia Praha in the Czech Extraliga, playing on the U18 and U20 squads in 2009–10. He was the third-highest scorer on the U20 team, scoring 12 goals and 26 assists. On the under-18 team, Hertl scored 13 goals and 10 assists. The next season, Hertl was among four players on the U20 team with 40+ points; Hertl had 14 goals and 27 assists. In 2011–12, Hertl was the fourth-leading scorer for Slavia, with 11 goals and 15 assists.[1]
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Hertl fifth among European skaters before the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[1] Sports Illustrated's Allan Muir ranked Hertl as the 18th best prospect in the 2012 draft.[2] ISS Hockey listed Hertl as the 32nd best, while The Hockey News and TSN scout Craig Button listed him as the 24th and 22nd best player, respectively.[3] Among Hertl's advantages include his large body and a good physical and defensive play, which Muir compared to Martin Hanzal. However, Muir also wrote, "Hertl's not the most agile skater or finisher, and he has a tendency to try to do too much."[2] Button stated that Hertl, although not particularly fast, his agility compensates for his speed; Hertl is also an effective passer and when "given the opportunity to shoot, he can be dangerous."[3]
Hertl was drafted by the San Jose Sharks with 17th overall pick in the 2012 draft, and became the first European player drafted with the Sharks' top pick since Czech Lukáš Kašpar was drafted in 2004.[4] After being drafted, Hertl rejoined Slavia, scoring 30 points in 43 games.[5]
San Jose Sharks
editThe Sharks officially signed Hertl to a three-year, entry-level contract on 3 June 2013.[6] In the preseason, Hertl scored 3 goals and 1 assist, and joined Joe Thornton and Brent Burns on a line, filling the hole created by Raffi Torres' injury.[5] Hertl made his NHL debut against the Vancouver Canucks on 3 October,[7] 2013 and tallied his first career point with an assist on a goal by Brent Burns. At age 19, Hertl became the first teenager to play in a season opener for the Sharks since Marc-Édouard Vlasic in 2006.[8] Hertl scored his first two NHL goals in the next game on 5 October 2013, against Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes;[9] Hertl became the youngest player to score two goals for the Sharks in one game since Patrick Marleau on 17 March 1999.[10] On 8 October 2013, Hertl registered 4 goals against the New York Rangers in a 9–2 victory, making him the fourth youngest player in the NHL to record a four-goal game (19 years, 330 days old) after Jimmy Carson did in the 1987–88 NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings (19 years, 254 days old).[11] Hertl also became the first Shark to score four goals in one game since Owen Nolan in 1995.[12] Hertl was eventually named the October Rookie of the Month, scoring eight goals, which led all rookies, and 11 points in 13 games.[13] However, on 19 December against the Kings, Hertl injured his knee after a collision with Dustin Brown and was reported to miss at least a month.[14] Hertl had surgery on his MCL and PCL in his right knee on 31 December. A former NHL trainer stated that the "best-case scenario" for Hertl's return was approximately 12 weeks, though Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area wrote that Hertl could be out for six-to-nine months.[15] On 11 April 2014, Hertl was cleared to return to the Sharks against the Colorado Avalanche,[16] ending a 45-game absence. On 17 April, against the Kings, Hertl scored his first career playoff goal.[17]
On 29 June 2016, at the conclusion of his entry-level contract, Hertl agreed to a two-year, $6 million extension to remain with the Sharks.[18][19] He signed a four-year contract extension with the Sharks on 2 July 2018.[20] During the 2018–19 season, Hertl posted 74 points in 77 games as the Sharks advanced to the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Sharks faced off against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round and in Game 6, Hertl scored a short-handed goal in double overtime to force a Game 7, which the Sharks won 5–4 in overtime. Following this, the Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche, also in seven games, before being defeated by the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Finals.[21]
In January 2020, Hertl participated in the 2020 National Hockey League All-Star Game as an alternate following an injury to teammate Logan Couture. In the Pacific Division's 10–5 semifinal victory over the Central Division, Hertl became the first Sharks player to score four goals in an All-Star Game.[22] On 29 January, he left the Sharks' game against the Canucks with what was revealed to be season-ending tears to the ACL and MCL.[23]
On 16 March 2022, he signed an eight-year contract extension with the Sharks.[24]
Vegas Golden Knights
editOn 8 March 2024, Hertl, along with 2025 and 2027 third-round picks, was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for prospect David Edstrom and a 2025 first-round pick.[25] On 8 April, Hertl played his first game for Vegas, recording an assist in a 4–3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.[26]
International play
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Czech Republic
| ||
| World Championships | ||
 |
2022 Finland | |
Hertl joined the Czech Republic at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships, scoring one goal, as the team finished eighth. The next year, Hertl participated in the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for the Czechs, scoring three goals and two assists, with the team finishing fifth.[1] He eventually played in the 2013 edition, in which the Czech team finished fifth.[27]
Hertl played with the Czech Republic at the 2013 IIHF World Championship, where he was the youngest player on the team.[28] Due to the knee injury against the Kings in December 2013, Hertl was forced to have surgery and missed out on participating in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.[29] Hertl returned to the Czech team for the 2015 IIHF World Championship.[30]
Hertl was selected to play for the Czech Republic in the 2016 World Cup.[31][32]
Personal life
editHertl and his wife have one son.[33]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2008–09 | HC Slavia Praha | CZE U18 | 35 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10 | HC Slavia Praha | CZE U18 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 31 | ||
| 2009–10 | HC Slavia Praha | CZE U20 | 42 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | HC Slavia Praha | CZE U18 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | HC Slavia Praha | CZE U20 | 33 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 49 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | HC Slavia Praha | ELH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | HC Slavia Praha | ELH | 38 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi | Czech.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | HC Slavia Praha | ELH | 43 | 18 | 12 | 30 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 37 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 82 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Worcester Sharks | AHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 81 | 21 | 25 | 46 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 49 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 79 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 41 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | ||
| 2018–19 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 77 | 35 | 39 | 74 | 18 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 4 | ||
| 2019–20 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 48 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 50 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 82 | 30 | 34 | 64 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 79 | 22 | 41 | 63 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 48 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| ELH totals | 82 | 30 | 25 | 55 | 38 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| NHL totals | 718 | 220 | 268 | 488 | 256 | 69 | 25 | 18 | 43 | 22 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Czech Republic | U18 | 8th | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | |
| 2012 | Czech Republic | WJC | 5th | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013 | Czech Republic | WJC | 5th | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | |
| 2013 | Czech Republic | WC | 7th | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 | Czech Republic | WC | 4th | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2015 | Czech Republic | WC | 4th | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Czech Republic | WC | 
|
10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12 | |
| Junior totals | 18 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 22 | ||||
| Senior totals | 35 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 18 | ||||
Awards and honors
edit| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| NHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2020, 2024 | [34][35] |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Tomas Hertl". Hockey's Future. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ a b Muir, Allan. "Muir's Top 20 NHL Draft Prospects". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ a b "2012 final TSN draft ranking". The Sports Network. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ^ "Sharks draft Czech center with 1st-round pick". Sports Illustrated. 23 June 2012. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ a b Halford, Mike (1 October 2013). "Sharks rookie Hertl to open on line with Thornton, Burns". NBC Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Sharks sign Hertl". Fox News. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ Pashelka, Chris (3 October 2013). "Sharks rookies Tomas Hertl, Matt Nieto to see action in season opener". Mercury News. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "Sharks Win Home Opener against the Canucks". San Jose Sharks. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "Hertl Helps Lead Sharks Past Coyotes". San Jose Sharks. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ "Rookie Hertl Scores First – and Second – NHL Goals in Win Over Coyotes". Sports Media 101. 6 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Tomas Hertl's goal of the year candidate caps rookie's historic night (Video)". Yahoo! Sports. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Petchesky, Barry (9 October 2013). "Tomas Hertl Is Your New Favorite Hockey Player". Deadspin. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ "Hertl named NHL's Rookie of the Month". San Jose Sharks. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ^ "Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl to miss at least a month with knee injury". Sports Illustrated. 21 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ Kurz, Kevin (1 January 2014). "Hertl could miss six to nine months". Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ^ Pashelka, Curtis (11 April 2014). "Sharks' Tomas Hertl to play against Colorado Avalanche". Mercury News. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Pollak, David (17 April 2014). "San Jose Sharks get results from Raffi Torres, Tomas Hertl in lineup". Mercury News. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ "Hertl signs two-year contract with Sharks". National Hockey League. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Sharks sign Tomas Hertl to two-year bridge deal". Yahoo! Sports. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "Sharks Re-Sign Tomas Hertl to Four-Year Contract". National Hockey League. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Nicholas J. Cotsonika (24 April 2019). "Sharks' comeback to win Game 7 against Golden Knights gives dads thrill". National Hockey League. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ Pashelka, Curtis (25 January 2020). "Tomas Hertl steals the show at NHL All-Star Game, but why wasn't he MVP?". The Mercury News. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Sharks' Tomas Hertl out for season with knee injury". ESPN. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Tomas Hertl Agrees to Terms on Eight-Year Extension with Sharks". National Hockey League. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Forward Tomas Hertl from San Jose Sharks". NHL.com. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ Webster, Danny (8 April 2024). "3 takeaways from Knights' loss: New forward's debut spoiled". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (4 January 2013). "Frk goal helps Czechs finish fifth at WJC". National Hockey League. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ "Team Roster, CZE – Czech Republic" (PDF). IIHF. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ Bernstein, Bobby (26 December 2013). "Sharks' Hertl To Miss 2014 Sochi Olympics". Indyposted. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "Hertl Named to Czech Republic IIHF Worlds Team". San Jose Sharks. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ "Team Czech Republic names preliminary World Cup of Hockey roster". Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ Clarke, Mary (2 March 2016). "World Cup of Hockey 2016: Here is the initial Team Czech Republic roster". Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "Tomas Hertl's wedding got real weird when Sharks players went shirtless and belted 'Baby Shark'". nbcsportsbayarea.com. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "2020 NHL All-Star Game rosters". NHL.com. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "NHL All-Star Game rosters unveiled; Matthews to represent host Maple Leafs". NHL.com. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
External links
edit
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database