Micro-Stats Behind Hertl’s Comeback All-Star Campaign

Tomas Hertl is a new man this season.

While it’s not obvious statistically – his 34 points in 48 games doesn’t even match his 63-point pace last year – it’s obvious in how he’s leading on and off the ice.

It starts with how the San Jose Sharks’ All-Star came to training camp.

Last year, Hertl seemed slow at times on the ice, but also weighed down mentally, whether from his new eight-year, $65.1 million contract or the San Jose Sharks’ losing or both. You could see it in Hertl’s at-times poor body language when things didn’t go right on the ice.

“Definitely when you get a new deal, you’re putting a lot of pressure [on yourself], you want to show why you got a big deal, sometimes, you’re just overthinking things,” Hertl admitted to San Jose Hockey Now.

The San Jose Sharks’ alternate captain worked this summer on getting lighter, and not just on the ice.

Read the Full Article at NBC Sports Bay Area