Tomas Hertl Uncertain About Future With Sharks
Often the top impending free agents heading into a season are no longer available by the time that season comes to a close. With many of the biggest names in the 2022 UFA class being in their mid-to-late thirties and many others having already begun extension talks with their current teams, next year may be no different. However, the San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl could be one of those rare wire-to-wire top impending free agents. Recent reports indicate that the skilled center is unsure about his relationship with the San Jose Sharks and whether he wants to remain with the team. The two sides are not expected to begin contract talks until later in the coming season and by then it could be too late.
As Alex Didion notes for NBC Sports, Hertl recently stated in an interview at home in the Czech Republic that he wonders if San Jose wants him and if he wants to stay. There is clearly a disconnect between the two sides, despite Hertl’s place as one of the team’s best players. Over the past six seasons, Hertl has scored at a pace of .32 goals per game and .7 points per game. While health hasn’t always been on his side, he makes up for it with immense impact when he is on the ice. In five of those six seasons, Hertl either scored 20+ goals or would have in a full season. In the past three years, he did the same with the 60-point benchmark. While his injury absences are not inconsequential, it is still clear that Hertl is an elite player – and yet the Sharks are seemingly not pushing him to re-sign.
The biggest question may be why Hertl would want to stay anyway. As noted, the 27-year-old could be one of the prime options on the open market. Not only is his scoring ability apparent but he excels at the center position, playing with size and grit and getting the job done at the face-off dot. Analytics also support Hertl’s status as perhaps one of the more underrated stars in the NHL. He has a chance to cash in and find a new team that is more likely to contend and where he can truly shine. Why would he pass that up? The grass is likely greener outside of San Jose, who Didion’s colleague Adam Gretz points out is still likely several years away from getting back to postseason contention. Yet, Gretz also notes that the Sharks’ salary cap situation is not ideal either, meaning Hertl is not likely to make any more by sticking with the rebuilding team versus testing the market for a better fit financial and competitively. As the cherry on top, Gretz writes that Hertl is also believed to be one of the Sharks who is upset about the presence of Evander Kane in the San Jose locker room. While Kane’s hockey future is still very much up in the air, if he does keep playing it will likely be for the Sharks, who made a long-term commitment – a commitment they seem hesitant to make to Hertl.
As of right now, Hertl merely seems uncertain about his future with the Sharks and wants to see how the season plays out. However, all signs point to a departure from San Jose at some point in time and a distinct possibility that Hertl could be one of if not the most sought after name on the 2022 free agent market.
Rocky Thompson Leaves San Jose Staff Due To COVID Vaccination Status
When the NHL revealed its 2021-22 COVID Protocol yesterday, there were a number of exceptions written in. One such exception was that players with a medical or religious reason for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine would not be subject to the suspensions that other unvaccinated players would be. The protocol for staff was written much stricter, stating that anyone in direct contact with players or other hockey operations personnel had to be fully vaccination. However, it seemed reasonable that these medical and religious exceptions for players would also be considered for staff.
Well, that does not appear to be the case. The San Jose Sharks have announced that assistant coach Rocky Thompson will not return to the bench this season. The reason? A medical condition prevents him from receiving the COVID vaccination and the league has not extended any flexibility for that situation. In Thompson’s own words:
Due to a medical exemption that prevents me from taking the COVID-19 vaccine, under the new League protocols, I am not permitted to fulfill my duties on the Sharks coaching staff at this time. I will have no further comment on this matter.
While its fair for the NHL to do all they can to protect the integrity of the upcoming season as best they can with the threat of COVID still relevant, this may be a step too far. The league has outlined a number of strict conditions for unvaccinated players in terms of travel, testing, and more, yet were not willing to use those same policies to mitigate the risk of an unvaccinated assistant coach who has a legitimate medical cause.
The Sharks included in their release that they will be announcing a replacement for Thompson soon. As for Thompson, after just one season in San Jose he could be looking for work elsewhere, as there is no word as to whether Thompson will re-joining Bob Boughner‘s staff after this season. 2020-21 had only been Thompson’s second season in the NHL, so the young coach still has plenty of contacts in the AHL and Canadian junior ranks that he could turn to this season and beyond.
Overseas Notes: Sorensen, Josefson, AIK
2020-21 was a season to forget for Marcus Sorensen. After recording 30 points in 80 games in 2018-19, Sorensen looked like he was emerging as a two-way threat for the San Jose Sharks. However, he followed that up with only 18 points and a -12 rating in 66 games in 2019-20. Sorensen was looking to get back on track this past season, but instead the decline continued. Sorensen recorded just five points and was a minus player yet again in 29 games with the Sharks. Unsurprisingly, it has been a quiet summer on the NHL market for Sorensen. However, he may have found a good option back home in Sweden. Swedish source Afton Bladet reports that the SHL’s Djurgardens IF is closing in on signing Sorensen to a long-term deal. The 29-year-old has been offered a four-year contract worth $12MM Krona ($1.44MM US). Sorensen was a prolific scorer for Djurgardens for several years before leaving for the NHL and the club hopes he still has gas left in the tank.
- Fueling the pursuit of Sorenson is the indefinite loss of former NHLer Jacob Josefson from the Djurgardens roster. Afton Bladet notes that Josefson has been struggling with post-concussion symptoms since this past spring and that a recent resurgence has sidelined him without any certain timeline for a return. Josefson, 30, has been Djurgardens’ captain for the past four years since leaving the NHL, not to mention one of their best players. If he isn’t available this season, Sorensen will be asked to step in and take on that leading role. The hope is that Josefson, who played eight seasons in the NHL with New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres, will be back on the ice before too long.
- Elsewhere in Sweden, the Allsvenskan’s AIK is loading up with NHL prospect talent. On consecutive days, he club has announced loan agreements to bring in standouts from the 2020 NHL Draft for the upcoming season. Winnipeg Jets second-round pick Daniel Torgersson is on his way from Frolunda HC, while Anaheim Ducks fourth-rounder Thimo Nickl arrives from Rogle BK. Torgersson, a big power forward, was nearly a point per game player at the junior level last year and played briefly in the SHL. Nickl, a rangy, two-way defenseman, played in the QMJHL two years ago and held his own in the pros this past season between the SHL and Allsvenskan. The 19-year-olds will provide a major boost to AIK before they potentially look to join their respective NHL teams next year.
Ivan Chekhovich Placed On Unconditional Waivers
Sep 1: Chekhovich has cleared waivers and is no longer a part of the Sharks organization. He has signed a new deal with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL, meaning you can forget about him joining a different NHL organization for the time being.
Aug 30: The San Jose Sharks have placed Ivan Chekhovich on unconditional waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. This likely indicates a contract termination, allowing the young forward to pursue other opportunities this season.
Chekhovich, 22, was set to enter the final year of his entry-level contract signed in 2018. He made his NHL debut in 2020-21, playing four games for the Sharks, but recorded just a single point. He spent the early part of the season in the KHL, where he found a lot more success, before joining the San Jose Barracuda for a stretch run.
Originally selected 212th overall in 2017, it’s an impressive accomplishment that Chekhovich even made it to the NHL at such a young age. A termination will make him an unrestricted free agent able to sign anywhere, though a return to the KHL seems likely.
A huge scoring talent at the QMJHL level, Chekhovich recorded 105 points in 2018-19 with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. The talented forward has struggled to bring that level of offense to the minor leagues, however, with just ten goals and 32 points in 70 AHL contests. Still young enough to develop, he’ll be a name to keep an eye on down the road.
Waiting For Contract Talks May Be Best For Sharks And Tomas Hertl
- The Sharks have a prominent pending unrestricted free agent in center Tomas Hertl and while some teams want to sign their top UFAs early, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic makes the case (subscription link) for both sides to wait it out. By waiting to see if San Jose is able to bounce back this season, GM Doug Wilson can hold off on deciding whether or not the 27-year-old will be his prize trade asset at the trade deadline while Hertl would get a better idea if San Jose is going to be heading for an extended rebuild which is something he may not want to sign up for. That route does carry some risk but given the uncertainty surrounding the Sharks right now, waiting may be a good idea here.
San Jose Sharks Sign Jasper Weatherby
The San Jose Sharks have signed Jasper Weatherby to a two-year entry-level contract. Weatherby has spent the last three seasons at the University of North Dakota but will forego his senior season and turn pro. PuckPedia reports that the terms of $842,500 AAV deal are as follows:
Both seasons: $750,000 NHL salary, $92,500 signing bonus, $82,500 games played bonus, $70,000 minors salary
That’s actually not what was expected, as Weatherby told his coaching staff earlier this year that he would be returning for his senior season. Instead, he’ll take a chance to compete for an NHL spot on a Sharks roster that is desperately looking for inexpensive contributions. In fact, there may well be a chance for the 6’4″ Weatherby to step right into the NHL as a bottom-six option in San Jose after his strong 2020-21 season. He recorded 14 goals and 24 points in 29 games for North Dakota, while also winning nearly 60% of his faceoffs.
Sharks GM Doug Wilson released a statement on the signing:
Jasper’s performance at our development camp showcased his offensive skill, as well as his ability to utilize his size and strength to consistently win faceoffs. He was a top collegiate player last season and served in a leadership role for North Dakota on and off the ice. The ingredients he brings meshes well with the top young players who are emerging in our system. We would like to thank the North Dakota hockey program for all of their hard work in helping Jasper reach this stage of his career.
Even if he doesn’t land a spot right away, the fourth-round pick is obviously physically mature enough to compete at the AHL level and continue his development on the pro circuit. Now 23, he was limited to a two-year entry-level deal and will be an RFA at its expiry.
The Sharks have a number of players competing for those bottom-six minutes, including a veteran addition in Andrew Cogliano. With so much money tied up in a handful of players, the fringe of the roster is always going to have to be made up of players on their entry-level deals or who have accepted low-cost contracts. One thing that won’t help in his pursuit of a spot is that Weatherby will be waiver-exempt this season.
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic first reported the deal.
San Jose Sharks Sign William Eklund
Aug 16: The Sharks have officially announced the contract.
Aug 15: The San Jose Sharks have inked a top prospect, signing William Eklund to a three-year entry-level contract. PuckPedia reports that the deal will carry a cap hit of $925K and does include a European Assignment Clause.
Eklund, 18, was the seventh-overall pick in this year’s draft after being the top-ranked international skater by NHL Central Scouting. He is still expected to play in the SHL this year, where he can continue his development with Djurgardens IF. In 2020-21, the young forward scored 11 goals and 23 points in 40 games at the pro level, earning SHL Rookie of the Year honors.
Despite that success, Eklund actually dropped a little lower than many were expecting, even falling behind countryman Simon Edvinsson as the first European drafted (not including Swiss-born Mason McTavish, who represents Canada internationally). The Sharks snapped him up when he was still available at seven, adding an elite two-way talent to their organization. Eklund is equally adept at both playmaking and scoring, constantly finding open ice whether the puck is on his stick or not. His size may be of a little concern, but his incessant work ethic has made up for it to this point. You won’t find a shift with Eklund floating around the perimeter, waiting for his teammates to do the heavy lifting; he’s always involved one way or another and should represent a huge boost to a Sharks pipeline that has struggled to produce impact talents in recent years.
Getting him signed was the next step, even though Eklund’s deal will slide forward if he plays outside the NHL this season. The deal takes the Sharks up to the 50-contract limit for now, though several of those–including this one–will not count toward it once they’re loaned out.
Snapshots: Kane, Saros, Pettersson
With an investigation ongoing into allegations that he bet on NHL games, Evander Kane‘s future with the San Jose Sharks isn’t clear. But it was long before that things started to deteriorate between the $7MM forward and his team. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic published an explosive piece today examining the situation in San Jose, reporting that “several key players” told the Sharks management that if Kane remained with the team, they didn’t want to stay.
Kurz writes that the Sharks did explore trading Kane earlier this offseason, but that obviously didn’t come to pass. Now with this new allegation, the reports of locker room turmoil and a bankruptcy case continuing in the background, the 30-year-old forward is “virtually untradeable.” Kane is currently signed through the 2024-25 season and holds a modified no-trade clause that allows him to list just three clubs he could be traded to. He also is coming off arguably his best season as a professional, with 22 goals and 49 points in 56 games.
- The Nashville Predators are approaching an arbitration hearing with starting goaltender Juuse Saros, scheduled for August 18. Adam Vingan of The Athletic breaks down the case that both sides have, but notes that Saros’ camp is looking for a long-term deal, while the Predators are hoping for a three to four-year contract if things can be worked out before the hearing. Saros truly broke out this season, finishing sixth in the Vezina Trophy voting and even receiving some Hart Trophy recognition, after posting a 21-11-1 record with a .927 save percentage. The 26-year-old goaltender is just a year away from unrestricted free agency, meaning any multi-year contract would be buying out almost exclusively UFA seasons. An arbitration ruling on the other hand could only be one year in length, taking him right to the open market next year.
- Elias Pettersson is another restricted free agent without a contract, but he doesn’t seem too worried about it. The Vancouver Canucks forward spoke to Uffe Bodin of Hockeysverige and explained that though the two sides are not in agreement on a deal yet, he’s confident they will find a solution. Pettersson also clearly indicated that he wants to be on a winning team, meaning if they want to keep him long-term, the Canucks better start making the playoffs more often.
San Jose Sharks Sign Adin Hill
Though an unsigned restricted free agent when acquired from the Arizona Coyotes, there was no question that young goaltender Adin Hill was a big part of the San Jose Sharks’ future. That became even more clear when incumbent starter Martin Jones was bought out. The Sharks have now taken their first official step toward a new status quo in net, signing Hill to a new deal. The team announced that the 25-year-old has inked a two-year deal. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports that it will carry a $2.175MM cap hit, paying Hill $1.675MM in 2021-22 and $2.675MM in 2022-23.
Hill arrives in San Jose with his eye on the starting job after gradually increasing his role with the Coyotes over the past three seasons. From four NHL games and an .891 save percentage in 2017-18, Hill improved to 13 games apiece in the next two years with a combined .910 save percentage and finally to a career-best 19 games, including 17 starts, and a .913 save percentage in 2020-21. Hill’s numbers are remarkably similar to his AHL play, he has a career 2.79 GAA and .909 save percentage in the NHL and a 2.69 GAA and .909 save percentage in 138 AHL games. Often the mark of a good goaltender, Hill shows little discrepancy in his play regardless of the caliber of competition or defense in front of him.
At 6’6″, Hill is a big, positional goaltender who learned how to use his size from one of the best in the game right now, new Colorado Avalanche addition Darcy Kuemper. The Sharks hope that Hill has a ceiling like Kuemper, but will settle for any upgrade to Jones’ abysmal numbers over the past few years. With the term of his new deal coming in shorter than that of veteran free agent signing James Reimer, San Jose will not be completely left hanging if Hill does not pan over the next two years, but they would much rather be signing him to a long-term extension in 2023 than searching for a replacement.
NHL Opens Investigation Into Evander Kane Gambling Allegations
Aug 1: Emily Kaplan of ESPN reports that league officials will meet tomorrow to determine who will conduct the Kane investigation. The league, according to Kaplan, expects it to be completed before training camp in September.
July 31: Earlier today, allegations were made on social media by Evander Kane‘s wife Anna Kane that suggested the San Jose Sharks forward had placed wagers on NHL games he took part in. The claims have not been proven to be true, but the league has opened an investigation into the matter. A statement from the league reads:
The League was made aware this evening of a post on social media alleging that San Jose Sharks Player Evander Kane bet on NHL games. The integrity of our game is paramount and the League takes these allegations very seriously. We intend to conduct a full investigation and will have no further comment at this time.
The Sharks have also released a statement:
The San Jose Sharks have been in contact today with the NHL about the serious allegations made against Evander Kane. We support a full and transparent investigation into the situation to maintain the integrity of the game and consistency with our team values.
No evidence has been publicly provided to support the allegation. Kane released a statement denying the allegation:
Unfortunately I would like to address the completely false accusations that my estranged wife and soon to be ex-wife has made against me. Even against the advice of my legal team I feel stronly that the public and fans hear this directly from me. I have never gambled/be on hokey, never gambled/bet on a Sharks game, never gambled/bet on any of my games and never thrown a hockey game. The facts are I personally had my best season of my career last year and was the most consistent I’ve been throughout any season, I’m proud of that. I love the game of hoceky and would never do any of what was alleged. I look forward to cooperating fully with the league’s investigation, having my name cleared and looking forward to this upcoming season.