Tomas Hertl just kept swimming to the Golden Knights from San Jose
The San Jose Sharks and Golden Knights are like the Hatfields and McCoys.
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
These two teams don't like each other much, making a trade seem unfathomable. However, that's what both franchises did in a surprise deal last season. The Sharks sent Hertl to the Golden Knights, retaining 17% of his salary.
Part of the reason why the Czech forward was acquired was because the Golden Knights have had a mediocre power play historically. Their best season came in 2019-20 when they scored on 22% of their man-advantage opportunities.
But this season has been a different story. The Golden Knights are scoring on 26.2% of their power plays in 2024-25, good for fourth in the NHL. Hertl has been the main catalyst for change, scoring seven goals and seven assists on the unit.
The power play has always been the butt of Golden Knights jokes, symbolizing the one mediocre aspect of the franchise. However, the times are changing and the two-time All-Star is leading the way. Sometimes, you must make a deal with the devil to win.