Ben Shelley: Was trading Tomas Hertl the right move for the Sharks?

Correct move.

Retaining and giving up 2 high 3rds is ridiculous though.

The challenge Grier had was the trade protections on all those older core players severely restrict the trade return value. Given he's not going to get highest bidder options he's going to get whatever the players are willing to waive for. Wilson left him in an absolutely disaster situation.

Hard to say right or wrong move when you are in this rebuild and cleaning things up. If he stayed, would he have been a key piece to build around or by the time the right parts are here he became the wrong part. I lean to this being the right move as I want to see Hertl go to a team that has a good chance to win now.

Yes. It’s an emotional response to keep an outstanding player and good team guy. Eklund, Smith and Celebrini are the future. Hertl’s timeline doesn’t fit. It’s one of those tough decisions and Grier is right to not fall in love with the player.

The return was very underwhelming but Grier didn’t have much leverage.

Grier doing fine tryin to rebuild and clean up this utter mess. It's the right move no matter how painful it got and will get. This is a longterm fix project so poor Sharks fans gonna be feeling it for a while longer

Once again, Grier did not get an adequate return because he forced the trade instead of waiting for the summer to give more teams an opportunity to put together a better package. Giving ip two 3rds, which are really late round 2nds and each carry a 20% chance of playing 100 NHL games greatly dimities the trade in addition tot the salary retention.

Grier doing fine tryin to rebuild and clean up this utter mess. It's the right move no matter how painful it got and will get. This is a longterm fix project so poor Sharks fans gonna be feeling it for a while longer
- Roadrunner75

Agreed , he get's heat for salary retention but it seems like the only incentive that makes other gm's consider moving a player .

It's kind of tough, because the cap really limits things as well. There have been a bunch of trades where the return for a good established player is underwhelming. A lot of the cap teams don't have many assets left as they've been trading away picks and prospects to win a cup for a few years. I'd say it was the right move at the moment. As always it depends what you do with those picks/prospects.

I think SJ is doing a great job building down the middle. It will be interesting to see what they put around these kids.

I have to think it was the right move at the right time. The team is still rebuilding and will be for the next few years, having that much salary tied up without a chance to sniff the playoffs would have been terrible for the books and for the player.
If he hadn't pulled the trigger at the moment, we'd end up with another Vlasic Contract.

Once again, Grier did not get an adequate return because he forced the trade instead of waiting for the summer to give more teams an opportunity to put together a better package. Giving ip two 3rds, which are really late round 2nds and each carry a 20% chance of playing 100 NHL games greatly dimities the trade in addition tot the salary retention.
- hockeygm

I don't know if you just dislike your GM or not but I feel you're ignoring important information to carry a narrative of negativity.

Hertl has a FULL no move clause so it doesn't matter if other teams were interested in the summer or not, Hertl has ALL the power in this deal for a few more years. Grier took his chances now instead of waiting on a declining asset, or what he and his team likely consider a declining asset.

Second, Grier got a 1st round pick and a recent 1st round pick too. They both have a 75% chance to make the show in 100+ plus games. That's much better than worrying about the 13% on the 3rd rounders. They are 3rd rounders, not second round picks. Regardless of how you think of them. Even still...they would 17% to make 100 games...an 83% chance of sucking ass.