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After a fairly quiet week leading up to the trade deadline for the San Jose Sharks, the team completed a series of moves today, most notably sending Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The move came as somewhat of a surprise, given that Hertl still has another six years remaining on his contract. The Sharks’ top forward had spent his entire career with the organization to this point, and had scored 15 goals and 34 points in 48 games with San Jose this season.
In exchange for Hertl, the Sharks acquired a 2025 first-round pick, along with 2023 first-round pick David Edstrom. San Jose also sent two third-round picks to Vegas as part of the deal, in 2025 and 2027, and will retain roughly $1.4 million per year on the contract.
Given the Sharks’ situation, making a trade to get back some future assets for Hertl now makes sense. He’s into his 30s and there’s probably a limited period of time where his contract would be moveable. While the return was possibly a little underwhelming, and the Sharks having to retain salary for many years isn’t great, it’s still overall the right move to make for the direction of the team.
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In other moves, the Sharks also dealt goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to the New Jersey Devils, in exchange for Vitek Vanecek and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Kahkonen was on an expiring contract, and posted an .895 save percentage through 31 games this season, while Vanecek has another year on his deal, at a $3.4 million cap hit, and posted an .890 save percentage through 32 games this season.
Radim Simek was also moved to the Detroit Red Wings along with a 2024 seventh-round pick, with the Sharks acquiring forward Klim Kostin in exchange. Meanwhile, the Sharks dealt Nikita Okhotiuk to Calgary in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick, and the Sharks also completed a trade with the Buffalo Sabres, to acquire goalie Devin Cooley for a 2025 seventh-round pick.
A full analysis of the Sharks' trade deadline moves will be coming soon.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM MARCH
- Sharks’ trade candidates unlikely to bring back big returns
- Sharks trade Anthony Duclair to Lightning 
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