October 26th 2024.
Just a few short hours after goalie Yaroslav Askarov's incredible fourth consecutive win for the San Jose Sharks' minor league team, Tomas Hertl took the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights, leading a powerful comeback in the third period. Askarov was on fire, making 26 saves for the Barracuda in their 5-3 victory against the Henderson Silver Knights at Lee's Family Forum on Friday. Meanwhile, Hertl, just a short 10 miles away from Askarov, scored a game-tying power-play goal in the third period for the Golden Knights, who went on to defeat the Ottawa Senators 6-4.
After the game, Hertl spoke to reporters about the Golden Knights' 5-2-1 record, saying, "It wasn't our best game overall. We had some struggles and made a few mistakes, but we stayed with it and that's what matters. In the end, nobody cares how we did it, we just got the two points." It's clear that Hertl is a valuable asset to the team, bringing his size, skill, and versatility as a top-six center.
The trade between the Sharks and Golden Knights, which sent Hertl to Vegas, seemed to benefit both teams. The Golden Knights, who have their sights set on the Stanley Cup, gained a strong center in Hertl, while the Sharks were able to create over $40 million in cap space and acquire promising goalie Askarov, who has already shown his talent with the Barracuda and could potentially become the Sharks' number one goalie next season.
Speaking of Askarov's impressive performance on Friday, he now has a perfect record of 4-0 with two shutouts and a remarkable .954 save percentage for the Barracuda. It's clear that both teams have benefited from the trade, even though the struggling Sharks may not see it that way as they continue their winless streak.
Since Hertl's departure, the Sharks' roster has undergone significant changes, with only six players from his last game with the team still on the active roster. Despite this, Hertl still has a strong connection to the Sharks, having spent over a decade with the team after they drafted him in 2013. He currently ranks seventh in games played, fifth in goals, and sixth in points on the Sharks' all-time list.
"It's tough to see them struggling," Hertl said of his former team. "I know what's going on there and it's not easy. If we weren't playing today, I would probably be having dinner with a lot of those guys, but I'll probably see them after the game. However, my focus is on playing a good game, getting the two points, and enjoying the post-game conversation."
The trade between the Sharks and Golden Knights was in the works for weeks before it was finalized on March 8. The Sharks sent Hertl and two future third-round picks to Vegas in exchange for center David Edstrom and a first-round pick in 2025. The Sharks then used that first-round pick, along with goalie Magnus Chrona and a third-round pick, to acquire Askarov and minor league forward Nolan Burke from the Nashville Predators.
Hertl is excited to face his former team for the first time, but he knows it will be a different experience when the Golden Knights visit San Jose on December 27. After spending 11 years with the Sharks, Hertl has a strong emotional connection to the team and its fanbase. Fans are already eager to see Hertl return to San Jose, with the cheapest tickets for that game currently priced at around $80.
"Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to it," Hertl said after Friday's game against the Senators. "It will be different when we play here and when we eventually play in San Jose. But I was there for 11 years, so it's a long time."
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