Tomas Hertl is on the Vegas trade block and the Maple Leafs are positioned to win the bidding
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
David Pagnotta believes the Vegas Golden Knights will trade Tomas Hertl, and the Maple Leafs should be quick to act but it won't necessarily be easy.
David Pagnotta says Vegas is open to trading Tomas Hertl and the Toronto Maple Leafs need to make sure they put a strong package together. Not only because it's going to help Auston Matthews but give John Tavares the chance to have much less of a weight on his shoulders. Hertl gives the captain his 2C and makes life easier for Tavares. Two birds, one stone.
As the Maple Leafs navigate the offseason, the next steps for John Chayka and company are finding a new head coach and the 2026 NHL Draft, where the future of the franchise hangs in the balance depending on who is taken first overall.
Then comes the entire roster switch with several trades and signings expected over the coming months.
If they really wanted to set themselves up for success however, they should be taking a look at someone who is currently in the midst of a Stanley Cup run with Vegas - Tomas Hertl.
Hertl gives Auston Matthews the playoff tested 2C the Maple Leafs have been hunting for two straight summers
The veteran centre has been named as a trade candidate by David Pagnotta as it's a bit unsurprising given his contract, but there's one massive caveat to the entire situation:
If they end up trading Tomas Hertl, for example, no one's gonna be surprised; he has a 3 team trade list, so good luck.
Only three teams have access to Hertl at the current time, so it's really up to him as to where he decides to play. He hasn't publicly made it known he would play in Toronto so Chayka would need to hope that he's one of the three.
However, while he does have a fairly sizeable deal already at $8.137-million until 2030, Toronto is also one of the most marketable teams in the world. Chayka can incentivize him coming over with several new endorsement deals, advertisement appearances and more; give him even more money and appreciation.
But he also gives Auston Matthews a trusted centre who can take over those defensive duties he's been glued to and allow him to focus more on offence. It isn't like Hertl can't score, as he had a 24-goal, 58-point season this year and has 607 career points in 837 games; the guy can do it all.
Hertl also played some of his best hockey underneath Bruce Cassidy, and with his name thrown about as well as other similar coaches like Jay Woodcroft in the mix; it wouldn't be hard for him to fit in the lineup.
He also has incredible possession numbers, is elite in the face-off circle, doesn't take a lot of penalties and will throw the body around when needed. He's exactly the help Auston Matthews needs - and the help needed to slide John Tavares down the lineup.
Adding Hertl drops John Tavares to 3C, allowing age and experience to become an asset not a liability
One thing that is potentially even more important for Toronto than giving Matthews some help is making sure that John Tavares isn't hung out to dry at age-35. While he's the definition of iron man and durability, time is the ultimate equalizer and who knows when that regression starts to hit.
Right now though he's doing pretty fantastic. Tavares just put up another 70+ point season which included his 500th career goal, but he could use a bit less responsibility. Not that he can't handle it, but putting him against weaker third and fourth line players can only boost that offence.
He also won't be going up against the top elite players where speed may be a factor, and he can instead use his cunning and veteran instincts to exploit the younger or more one-sided play styles and take advantage.
If Toronto re-signs Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson, that's the two you put beside Tavares. Both are fast skaters, creative playmakers and scorers and Robertson adds that bulldog mentality that every line needs.
Or you wanna protect him more? Throw Dakota Joshua there and watch how much space Tavares has now.
Hertl's addition provides a lot more flexibility for the entire lineup just by virtue of his ability to do pretty much everything and do it well. He can play in any situation, and allow Toronto to really maximize their matchups and take every advantage possible.
It's not exactly the easiest acquisition for John Chayka. But no one said this GM stuff was a cakewalk either.
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The Boston coach who suffocated Auston Matthews for years is now a Maple Leafs candidate
The Boston coach who suffocated Auston Matthews for years is now a Maple Leafs candidate
Previously on Hockey Patrol