Sometimes, it's not easy being in the middle of trade speculation and drama. You don't know where you're headed next and could pack up at a moment's notice. Two important Golden Knights were at the center of said rumors in the last month. However, general manager Kelly McCrimmon had some choice words on Tuesday for those initiating the rumors.
"That wasn't true. It just wasn't true. It's on that long list of things that have gone on the month that had absolutely [no] credibility. It's shameful, to be honest, that I've got to phone William Karlsson and say, 'Karly, I'm sorry you got to go through this s**t. You're not for trade. Tomas [Hertl], relax, you're not for trade.' That's ridiculous."General manager Kelly McCrimmon
Mind you, Karlsson and Hertl have been subjected to endless trade rumors throughout the past month. For the Prague native, he was tied to the Carolina Hurricanes. For the Original Misfit, Toronto Maple Leafs fans made up the most outlandish trades involving him.
See, Golden Knights fans? Now you know what Canadiens fans deal with daily, along with hockey fans in Detroit and Boston. Something's in the water in Ontario and it's not Rob Ford's old farts.
Here's one for the fans asking what the two stars bring to the table. What does a Swedish forward and a 31-year-old center do for Vegas? Prepare to have your mind blown.
William Karlsson and Tomas Hertl are quintessential parts to the Golden Knights
Golden Knights fans know what William Karlsson can do. He plays a 200-ft. game and constantly hustles to every puck. The Misfit is also valuable on special teams, contributing to both units.
But what about Hertl? Well, he did set the single-season franchise record for the most power play goals (14). He's one of the main reasons why Vegas had the second-best power play this past season. There's that, you know.
So why would McCrimmon trade either player in a Mitch Marner deal (or any other deal) when it could backfire? The main reason why they were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers was a lack of scoring. Being shut out in the last two games by Stuart Skinner? That hurts.
What would hurt even more is trading away your key pieces to get a superstar. Sure, Hertl was absent during that second round. Sure, Karlsson only played 53 games this past season. However, it goes back to the old adage of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Therefore, both players shouldn't go anywhere for the foreseeable future. If you're looking to win a Stanley Cup, you need the 32-year-old to cover players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. You need players like Hertl to create havoc in front of the net.
Without these two key players, where would you be? You'd be standing where the Maple Leafs are. You'd try to make space for a few players and have no depth to show for it. That's one place you don't want to be.