Sharks Are Still Hertl’s No. 1 Team…When He’s Not Playing Them

LAS VEGAS — Tomas Hertl just wanted to win.

It’s clear that San Jose and the Sharks are still in his heart though.

Even after scoring the game-tying goal in a thrilling 6-4 Vegas Golden Knights’ comeback victory over the Ottawa Senators, Hertl took the time on Friday night to talk about all things teal in an exclusive Q&A with San Jose Hockey Now.

Hertl shared that he still scoreboard watches San Jose Sharks games, who will represent him at Joe Thornton’s upcoming jersey retirement night, how he found out early that Joe Pavelski was planning to retire, his joy chasing a Stanley Cup again, and his thoughts about Macklin Celebrini and a new era of Sharks hockey.

After a decade of excellence in teal, the San Jose Sharks, five years and running out of the playoffs, traded their homegrown star to the Golden Knights last Trade Deadline. But?

“Never forget the Sharks, ever,” Hertl said. “It’s part of me.”

Hertl, on how hard it is to see the San Jose Sharks struggling:

Yeah, I still have friends [there]. It was No. 1, my team, I will never play the same amount of years on any other team.

I follow what is happening. Every time [we play the same night], I look [at their score] after ours.

Read the Full Interview at NBC Sports Bay Area