San Jose Sharks sign Tomas Hertl to eight-year extension

Zach Laing
Zach Laing
San Jose Sharks sign Tomas Hertl to eight-year extension
Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The San Jose Sharks and forward Tomas Hertl have put pen to paper on an eight-year contract extension. Hertl’s new deal will reportedly have a salary cap hit in the $8 million range, putting the total dollars near $64 million.

Hertl re-signing with the Sharks will take one huge name off the board ahead of the March 21 trade deadline.

Hertl, 28, was ranked third on Frank Seravalli’s Top 50 Trade Targets list.

The Sharks made a big push to keep Hertl over the last two weeks, likely convincing him that they have the ability to be competitive again soon.

“San Jose has always seemed enthused (and confident) about keeping Hertl,” Seravalli wrote on March 15. “The player himself has publicly appeared a bit more skeptical – mostly that the Sharks will be competitive quickly again.

“He’s having a fantastic season, still on pace for 35 goals, and has three goals in his last two games. Hertl would provide a significant return for the Sharks’ future, a necessary component for a team en route to a third straight season in lottery territory.”

Drafted in the first round (17th overall) by the Sharks in 2012, Hertl has emerged as a leader on the club and is amid one of his most productive seasons in the league. In 59 games, he’s scored 25 goals and 48 points notching .81 points per game.

Hertl was previously earning $5.625 million per season. With Hertl in the $8 million range, the Sharks will now have more than 40 percent of next year’s salary cap committed to just four players, including Hertl, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson.

The Sharks are on-pace to finish with 83 points and miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.

Keep scrolling for more content!