There haven’t been many positives to playing in San Jose Sharks over the past four or five years. Fortunately, the Golden Knights appear to have found one that they plan on taking advantage of with Tomas Hertl.
Over the last couple years when I was playing in San Jose, I got put with a lot of different guys, and a lot of young guys. I just want to be there for those guys and help them out. That’s a big part of the job for me as this is my 12th year in the league so I should be able to play with anybody that’s with me. -Tomas Hertl
In his first preseason action with the Golden Knights, Hertl started on a line with Nicolas Roy and Alexander Holtz. About halfway through the game, Holtz switched sides and Brendan Brisson joined the line.
Hertl was strong the entire way and it appeared the fit was a bit better with Holtz on the right as opposed to the left.
Nonetheless, it’s helpful that Hertl is used to a revolving door of linemates.
That might have to be the case here too. There’s going to have to be some experimenting simply because he hasn’t played a lot here. -Cassidy
Right now, Cassidy and the Golden Knights seem set on keeping Hertl at what most consider his natural position, center. But as the line shuffle continues, Hertl says he’s more than happy to shift out to the wing.
I’ve played half of my career as a center and half as a winger. I’m just here to win hockey games, so wherever I fit the best I will be ready for it. -Hertl
Holtz, Roy, and Brisson were the first three to get looks but it’s likely Victor Olofsson, Pavel Dorofeyev, and maybe even Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev, or Brett Howden could see time next to Hertl as well.
Right now it doesn’t matter who we put on the line with him, eventually, it will, but for now we know we’re going to get a good performance out of him and we can just try to find what his best fit is as we go along. For Tomas, worry about your own game, get it where it needs to be. He knows his game better than anybody, he’s been in the league long enough, and I thought his game was very good tonight. -Cassidy
The hope is for something to click quickly as the unknown of Hertl’s ideal linemates leaves the rest of the forward group in constant shuffle. Odds are Hertl only sees one or two more preseason games, so the chances will be limited. Even if nothing clicks between now and October 9th, it’s nice for Vegas to know Hertl has been through this before and it shouldn’t affect his play as much as it could for many others.
Butch Cassidy
I used to think Stone and Pietro were future anchor contracts but Hertl looks like a washed out Dollar General McKinnon.
Going back to last year, Hertl just seemed like a waste of space, and was forced into the line up to see if he wasnt washed.
I was surprised to see him play this early in the preseason but I guess VGK Management desperately need this guy to play up to half the value of his contract.
He looked bad on TV last year in Dallas but didnt even look this bad as seeing it live last night. You can tell he was 3 steps slower than everyone and he fell like 4 times along with losing the puck multiple times. As of now, San Jose looked to have robbed VGK cleanly.
Hanifin was such a good pick up, that he makes up for the slow and ineffective Hertl. Even the person I went to the game last night that doesnt follow hockey at all, said that 48 looked slow and fat lol
Anyways, please Hanifin, deliver us from washed Hertl.
Emmanuel
I always wondered, why Hertl? What did the front office see to give him that term? Do they think they will be able to ship out some of these contracts (or at least one) despite NMC’s?
Butch Cassidy
It was San Jose Front Office that gave him that contract. They probably consulted a witch doctor and signed him up to that contract before fleecing VGK in trading him a $8.7million/year washed player. They knew this contract would be a poison pill for VGK.
Mantha was just a terrible move.
Hertl might be the move that sinks this team’s chance to deep playoff runs. Can’t have a $8.7m player be this awful when you are already in cap trouble.
By mid season we should know whether this move was a total failure but going back to last season, it doesn’t look good
Emmanuel
I get the feeling some of these guys are retiring or being bought out……
larry
Have we learned nothing all these years in that we need to give the Front Office the benefit of the doubt in the moves they make?
I dont understand the castigation of Hertl…he is a professional’s professional….he doesnt need to move like Mackinnon to be a successful force at center…it is ice awareness that is centerfold…no pun intended!
The guy came to VGK last year after suffering through lost seasons with the sharks…coming off a knee injury that there was no real urgency to rehab until he was traded to us…of course he would not be the same player getting thrown into the mix with little practice time and assimilation to the city and team.
And a further beatdown on him after training camp opened one week ago…and one pre-season game??…come on that is just way off and unfair.
And if Kens prediction of 15-19 goals should eventuate…then i shall eat a heaping helping of crow cause i am expecting at least upper 20’s…and should he not attain that then our season just might be in trouble!
JB
I agree. Give the guy a legitimate chance. He’s a pro and will help us!
ThG
oppsie
Democrat Narrative Crumbles After J6 Transcripts Reveal Truth, Trump Exonerated!
Recently released interviews surrounding the January 6th, 2021 Capitol breach have revealed significant new details about President Trump’s efforts to deploy National Guard troops in an attempt to quell unrest. Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) shared bombshell testimony on Thursday from an investigation into Trump’s actions during the Capitol riots, indicating that Trump had requested additional military support but was rebuffed.
According to transcripts obtained by the House GOP, General Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified that Trump pre-approved the deployment of the National Guard ahead of January 6. In an interview with the Pentagon’s inspector general, Milley recalled Trump’s specific instructions: “The President just says, ‘Hey look at this. It’s going to be a large amount of protesters come in here on the 6th, and make sure that you have sufficient National Guard or Soldiers to make sure it’s a safe event.’”
Milley also testified that then-acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller assured Trump that the Pentagon had a plan in place. However, Miller later admitted that political concerns affected the deployment strategy, particularly the decision to keep National Guardsmen away from the Capitol building itself. The initial plan, which had been approved by Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, focused on using the National Guard for traffic control rather than security at the Capitol.
“There was a political calculation to keep troops away from Congress,” Miller explained. “It wasn’t the optics. It was like there was… would have been huge political consequences for that.” Former D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee also testified that Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy resisted placing troops around the Capitol, citing concerns over “bad optics.”
Loudermilk, in response, voiced his concern over the political nature of the decision-making process. “President Trump directed senior DoD leaders to ensure events on J6 be safe. They ignored his guidance, prioritized optics concerns over security, and pushed a flawed narrative,” Loudermilk wrote on X.
The decision to limit the role of the National Guard delayed their deployment as violence escalated on January 6. Despite Trump’s earlier calls for security, McCarthy eventually approved the deployment of 400 Guardsmen, but explicitly restricted them from using force against protesters. These restrictions included prohibitions on issuing weapons or body armor to Guardsmen, as outlined in McCarthy’s December 2020 memorandum.
As the riot unfolded and chaos spread, the Pentagon took several hours to deploy additional troops, a delay that proved costly. Before reinforcements could arrive, Trump supporter Ashlee Babbitt was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer as rioters breached the building. Investigators have since confirmed that McCarthy’s decision to limit the use of force was influenced by political considerations, with officials acknowledging that the term “optics” played a major role in the planning.
In a separate interview, DC Homeland Security Coordinator Christopher Rodriguez recalled being “shocked” when Army officials prioritized political concerns over immediate security needs. “It shocked me quite frankly,” Rodriguez said of the call where optics were discussed. “We recognize that we might not be able to get an answer to getting needed support up to the Capitol in a timely fashion.”
Despite these delays, the Pentagon’s inspector general concluded that military leaders acted quickly to suppress the violence. But Congressman Loudermilk remains skeptical, stating that “The DC National Guard was significantly delayed from deploying to the U.S. Capitol on J6 because senior DoD leaders had ‘optics’ concerns.”
Further complicating the narrative, former Defense Secretary Miller testified that Trump mentioned the need for “10,000 troops” for the January 6th protests. However, Miller dismissed the comment as “presidential banter.” General Milley, meanwhile, denied that Trump ever requested such a large force.
The interviews also revealed a strained relationship between Trump and military leadership. At one point, Miller compared Trump’s speeches to those of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, stating, “The guy speaks for 90 minutes, it’s like Castro or something. No. I’ve got work to do.”
These revelations add a new layer of complexity to the events leading up to the Capitol breach, painting a picture of political calculations, delayed responses, and deep divisions between Trump and military leaders. As the investigation continues, Loudermilk and House Republicans are pressing for a full accounting of the decisions made on that pivotal day. “The American people deserve the full truth,” Loudermilk wrote, underscoring the need for further scrutiny into the actions of military and government officials surrounding January 6.
ThG
local Vegas radio station vows to never play GREENDAY music again, after lead bashes Vegas because Oakland lost their baseball team.
Good riddance, never liked this far left liberal band and their fake music tugging on heart strings of people, with political agenda. Making money off political agendas, sickos. Bye bye.
Tim
Hockey starts with defense and ours is deep. Goaltending I think will be fine. I think our offense will be woeful. After Eichel I just don’t see any scoring. Stone is about done, if Hertl is as slow as they say chalk him up. You can hope someone will step up but it ain’t happening. So Cassidy will rely on his defense to keep the score low which as a fan there’s not much entertainment value. I’m going to count how many 2 goals or less games we have this year win or lose. In hockey the magic number is at least 3 goals.
vgk21
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