The Vegas Golden Knights might be having one of the most bizarre seasons known to mankind. They're pushing to have the most overtime losses in a single NHL season, with the record originally set by the 2008-19 Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2011-12 Florida Panthers, the 2013-14 New Jersey Devils, and the 2014-15 Philadelphia Flyers. All four teams had 18 overtime losses, putting them directly in the crosshairs of the 2025-26 Golden Knights.
However, one man is having his patented "Fun Must Be Always" season: Tomas Hertl. The center has 22 goals and 26 assists, with 11 goals and nine assists coming on the power play. He's projected to hit 33 goals and 39 assists, with 16 projected goals and 13 projected assists on the power play.
Those would come close to the career-highs he set before coming to the Golden Knights. His career-high in goals is 35 and he had a career-high in points with 74, both set in 2018-19. The career-high in assists came in 2022-23, where he had 41.
Imagine if he hits those numbers again in 2025-26. He could provide a much-needed boost for a Golden Knights team looking for consistency. However, there's much more to Hertl's game than becoming a goal-scoring asset, specifically on the power play. What can the "Fun Must Be Always" ambassador bring to Team Czechia that could lead them to a dark horse run for a gold medal?
Here's what Tomas Hertl brings to the table for Team Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Everyone knows that Hertl is a big presence in the bumper, especially on the power play. His whole act is to pounce on rebounds and redirections, causing a distraction for opposing goaltenders. That has provided an absolute boon for the Golden Knights since he arrived on the scene. Since Hertl joined the Golden Knights, they've had a power play percentage of 27.7%, boasting a record of 78-41-24.
Imagine what the Czech Republic can do with David Pastrnak and Martin Necas partnered with Hertl on the unit. They can abuse the Golden Knights center like a cheat code and feast on the power play. But that's not the only thing that the Czech Republic can expect with Hertl.
Hertl isn't one of the fastest skaters on the ice, maxing out at 21.96 MPH this season. He also spends his time in the offensive zone, with 46.7% of his time in this specific zone (4.5% above the NHL average). Therefore, he'll need help from his teammates on the forecheck to set up. That way, he can do his work up front and wreak havoc on opposing goaltenders.
Team Czechia is getting an absolute offensive gem in Tomas Hertl. Vegas Golden Knights fans have grown attached to the superstar center in recent years, gravitating towards his infectious personality and offensive output. But the Czech Republic will have a blast watching their native son playing up front. It'll leave them with the brightest smile on their faces, especially if they shock everyone and win the Stanley Cup.