REPORT: Hertl Unsure If Sharks Want Him to Stay — Or If He Wants to Stay

A couple days ago, San Jose Hockey Now reported that there had been no serious contract discussions between impending UFA Tomas Hertl and the San Jose Sharks.

What I’m Hearing About Hertl | SJHN+

A source told SJHN: “Nobody is talking to him yet.”

Hertl essentially confirmed that in an interview with iDNES.cz yesterday.

“I also haven’t gotten any indication that they would like me to stay,” Hertl said, as translated by The Athletic. “No one ever knows what the bosses are thinking. I’m trying not to think about it.”

Hertl added: “I wonder if San Jose will want to re-sign me, and if I’ll want to stay there. I don’t want to think about it so it doesn’t negatively affect me. I’ll start the season and see how it turns out.”

Add another layer of uncertainty to San Jose Sharks training camp, set to begin on September 22nd. There are already a million questions swirling around Evander Kane and whether he’ll still be on the roster: Will the NHL find that Kane gambled on Sharks games? Has the locker room turned against Kane so much, coming back would be impossible for him anyway?

Now, add Hertl: Do the San Jose Sharks, two years out of the playoffs, want to commit long-term to the veteran center? Does he even want to stay?