The San Jose Sharks signed forward Tomas Hertl to an eight-year extension, the team announced Wednesday.
The deal carries an average annual value of $8.1375 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. The first three years have a no-movement clause, and the final five years have a limited no-trade clause, Friedman adds.
Hertl was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season ended.
The 28-year-old's name was floated around in trade rumors all season long, but San Jose's management was adamant that the club wanted to sign him to a long-term deal.
Tomas Hertl, signed to an 8x$8M extension by SJ, is a high-end two way number one centre who is well-rounded offensively and has a strong track record of strong defensive play as well. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/W3fC49x2fj
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 16, 2022
Hertl plays a dynamic two-way game and excels on both ends of the ice. He's having a great campaign with the Sharks, tied for first on the team with 25 goals and sitting second in points with 48.
San Jose currently has no forwards on its roster signed beyond the 2023-24 season. The club has defensemen Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic signed long term, but Hertl now figures to be the Sharks' centerpiece on offense as they usher in a new era.
Hertl has 176 goals and 195 assists in 562 career games. He ranks third on the squad with 315 points and second with 148 goals since the beginning of the 2015-16 season.
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