There were rumblings growing regarding a potential trade involving San Jose Sharks veteran Tomas Hertl ahead of the NHL trade deadline, but the Sharks just poured cold water on all of those talks with their latest decision. San Jose and the star center have agreed to a big-money eight-year contract that will pay Hertl a total of $64 million, per Elliotte Freedman.
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Hertl will pocket an average of $8 million per year in his massive new deal with San Jose, which will likely keep the 28-year-old with the team for the remainder of his career, or close to it.
The new deal for Hertl sees him become the team's joint-highest earner in the attack alongside Logan Couture, who also signed an 8-year $64 million contract with the Sharks back in 2018. Defenseman Brian Burns also makes roughly $8 million per season, while William Karlsson's contract tops the team with his $11.5 million average annual value.
Article Continues BelowHertl was set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. With the Sharks struggling this season, rumors of a potential trade had begun to flare up. San Jose is in seventh place in the Pacific Division, having earned 60 points through their first 59 games. The team sits 5 points behind the Anaheim Ducks, but have four games in hands over their division rivals.
This season, Hertl has 48 points across 59 games. He's scored 25 goals and contributed to 23 more while having taken 157 shots on goal. Hertl was the Sharks' first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft and now looks destined to spend his entire career in San Jose, following his big-money deal.