Watch for Tomas Hertl to join an exclusive club for the Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights fans might see Tomas Hertl join an exclusive club. What could he achieve before season's end?
Vegas Golden Knights v Los Angeles Kings
Vegas Golden Knights v Los Angeles Kings | Harry How/GettyImages

Clubs are all the rage in sports right now. No, I'm not talking about heading to a night club or Little Darlings. Get your head out of the gutter! Instead, I'm talking about personal achievements and excellence. These clubs are honored by franchises like the Vegas Golden Knights and players like Tomas Hertl.

It take dedication, skill, and hard work to make it into these clubs, too. You get up early to head to the gym, hoping to meet your future goals. Perhaps you want to reach that executive position you've eyed for years? Maybe you want to buy that house and escape your noisy neighbors with no self-awareness? These things apply to the hockey world, too.

Luckily for the ambassador of "fun must be always," he's having a terrific season. He has 23 goals and 23 assists in 59 games. The two-time All-Star has also made his bread and butter on the power play, scoring 11 goals and eight assists on the unit. In fact, he's one goal short of tying Erik Haula's franchise record in 2017-18.

But that's not the only achievement he's chasing. Hertl could be the sixth Golden Knights player to join the 30-30 club. That consists of players scoring 30 goals and 30 assists (or more) in a single season. It's been done five times in franchise history (and some prolific names on top of that). What does it mean for the former San Jose Shark?

What being in the 30/30 club means for Tomas Hertl

Obviously, this means he's having no trouble fitting in. He's adapted well in Bruce Cassidy's offensive system and has made a living of deflections and redirections. But he's also proven that he can come up with clutch goals without these stipulations. Take this power play goal against the Boston Bruins as a perfect example.

Hertl gets the feed from Eichel and puts it past Jeremy Swayman's glove side for the game-winner. His acumen has evolved into taking on other offensive roles. He uses his body to deter defenders and get his shots on net. It doesn't matter if it's on the power play or even-strength. He's taken that strength and used it to create new opportunities.

Of course, that will bode well for the Vegas Golden Knights down the stretch. You have a tough pair of division rivals gunning for the top spot, meaning you must have all hands on deck. Luckily, the Prague native hasn't had trouble scoring goals with three in his last four games. All this means he'll become a part of team history, being remembered as a key player during the team's deep runs. If he makes the 30/30 club, he'll make his mark on history.

Who else is a part of the Vegas Golden Knights 30/30 club?

Making the 30/30 club will also mean Tomas Hertl is part of elite company. Four players have achieved this mark in franchise history, with only one (William Karlsson) repeating the feat. He also had the most successful campaign, scoring 43 goals and 35 assists.

Player

Goals

Assists

Season

William Karlsson

43

35

2017-18

Max Pacioretty

32

34

2019-20

Jonathan Marchessault

30

36

2021-22

Jack Eichel

31

37

2023-24

William Karlsson

30

30

2023-24

While Karlsson had the most goals of the five instances, Jack Eichel had the most assists with 37 last season. 2023-24 was also the only time two Golden Knights hit this hallmark, as Eichel was joined by the "Original Misfit."

There's an outside shot Hertl could be joined by the former second-overall draft pick, too. Eichel has 19 goals and is projected to hit 26. While he still needs to rest after the 4 Nations Face-Off, don't count out his scoring acumen at any given time. That's what makes him (and the ambassador for "fun must be always") a legendary franchise player.

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