Why Tomas Hertl Will Be MVP of the Vegas Golden Knights vs. the Dallas Stars

All the hype surrounding the Vegas Golden Knights seems to be centered around one man: Mark Stone. The captain is cleared to practice with the team after lacerating his spleen in February. The hockey world is wondering when the Winnipeg native will return, making the Golden Knights exponentially better. But the one big acquisition suddenly left in the dust has been Tomas Hertl.

Acquired from the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline, the Czech superstar has impacted the Golden Knights positively. His presence will be felt in the first round against the Dallas Stars, making him a key player. How so, you might ask?

1. Tomas Hertl Has Made the Power Play Better

The Vegas Golden Knights have never had a great power play. The unit has been marred by various miscues and a lack of a presence up front. That's why they got Tomas Hertl to remedy the issues. So far, that impact's being felt by the Golden Knights.

In their last six games, the Golden Knight have scored seven power play goals on 15 opportunities. With a power play goal and power play assist, the former Shark has boosted the unit. How has Hertl made the Golden Knights more dangerous on the man advantage?

2. Hertl Provides a Big Body Up Front

Another reason why the Vegas Golden Knights haven't had a successful power play in the past is because of the lack of a big body. It was always tough for a Golden Knight like Stone to cut in front, acting as an upfront presence. But with Hertl, that's changed.

Standing at 6'3" and weighing in at 215 lbs., the center's big presence in front of the net makes Vegas deadlier offensively. Now, the Golden Knights can just use Hertl for redirects or for making the goalie's viewpoint more difficult. No longer will Vegas worry about giving the opposition any easy looks.