Tomas Hertl

hockeyball · Nov 20, 2015

Wooren said:
I haven't seen a single sharks game, but just by looking at stats you can say he struggling to score goals. Scored his only 2 in the first three matches and since then (16 matches) he couldn't get it into the net. His shooting % is 4,2 and total amount of shots is 48. 4,2 is just very, very low.

While all of this is accurate, it does not touch at all on how fantastic he's been as a playmaker and center. He stepped right into Couture's shoes (huge shoes to fill) and excelled at it. He's regularly looked like the most dangerous player on the ice whenever he's out there, and while his goals are not coming so far, I honestly prefer the possession and playmaking and defensive responsibility he's showing. Those are the things that will determine if he can be a #1 center in this league.

Pinkfloyd · Nov 20, 2015

hockeyball said:
While all of this is accurate, it does not touch at all on how fantastic he's been as a playmaker and center. He stepped right into Couture's shoes (huge shoes to fill) and excelled at it. He's regularly looked like the most dangerous player on the ice whenever he's out there, and while his goals are not coming so far, I honestly prefer the possession and playmaking and defensive responsibility he's showing. Those are the things that will determine if he can be a #1 center in this league.

I think he just needs to pull the trigger a little quicker and the goals will come. It's a tough thing to criticize because his patience with the puck creates a lot of havoc but it also prevents him from getting a jump on the goalie when he gets the puck into higher scoring areas.

hohosaregood · Nov 20, 2015

sr228 said:
Hertl has been outstanding this season skating at center, though a bit unlucky scoring wise.

He's been elite in possession, creates a lot offensively, uses his size very well, has been pretty good defensively and makes players around him better.

The points will come for him but so far this season I think he's been everything the org hoped for when they drafted him and he should continue to get better.

It's really unfortunate not only that he was injured in his rookie season but that the effects lingered through last season but it seems to be completely behind him now.

For the most part I agree but not super sure if I agree on him using his size well. To me, one of the weaker parts of his game seems to be his ability to keep body position between the puck and forecheckers/defense. Clearly it's not affecting his possession game but I think he could be a world beater if he could protect the puck at a Thornton or Marleau level. I'm happy with his performance regardless though.

sr228 · Nov 20, 2015

hohosaregood said:
For the most part I agree but not super sure if I agree on him using his size well. To me, one of the weaker parts of his game seems to be his ability to keep body position between the puck and forecheckers/defense. Clearly it's not affecting his possession game but I think he could be a world beater if he could protect the puck at a Thornton or Marleau level. I'm happy with his performance regardless though.

There are very few players in the NHL that can protect the puck like Thornton but I guess we're seeing the game a bit differently as I think Hertl has been good at protecting the puck down low and around the net, he's been doing it well enough to give not just himself a bit more space to make plays but also to give his linemates more time/space to find openings on the ice.

He's also been pretty good at shrugging of checks and winning board battles.

cleveland408 · Nov 20, 2015

hohosaregood said:
. Clearly it's not affecting his possession game but I think he could be a world beater if he could protect the puck at a Thornton or Marleau level. I'm happy with his performance regardless though.

I agree with this. Once Hertl puts a bit more weight on and gains some strength He'll a puck possession monster at Jumbo's level.

Alwalys · Nov 20, 2015

cleveland408 said:
I agree with this. Once Hertl puts a bit more weight on and gains some strength He'll a puck possession monster at Jumbo's level.

he's not that far off right now BUT where he doesn't come close to comparing is turning that possession into an attack. thornton uses his ability to hold the puck to set up incredible plays, looking a step or two ahead. right now hertl is concentrating on holding onto the puck. that should improve over time.

Wooren · Nov 20, 2015

I am pleasantly surprised by your opinions. I am mainly a stat watcher, as there's just too few games played in EU time, so when I saw his point total or shooting prercentage, I was getting worried his rookie season was a fluke and he is on the way of becoming ''only'' a good third liner. But I guess I was wrong and it makes me want to watch the San Jose v Columbus duel, which is played in Euro time.

Alwalys · Nov 20, 2015

hertl is good. real good. rapidly becoming a true beast.

CanadienShark · Nov 20, 2015

Phu said:
he's not that far off right now BUT where he doesn't come close to comparing is turning that possession into an attack. thornton uses his ability to hold the puck to set up incredible plays, looking a step or two ahead. right now hertl is concentrating on holding onto the puck. that should improve over time.

This is key. Hertl is more "holding on for dear life" to Thornton's "chessmaster, thinking steps ahead" type of approach. That's no insult to Hertl, as it'll come with time. I'm very impressed with how his decision making has improved already.

Juxtaposer · Nov 20, 2015

Hertl is a physical beast. His ability to protect the puck on the boards impressed me every game.

Kinda unfair to compare him to Joe freakin' Thornton.

hockeyball · Nov 20, 2015

TheJuxtaposer said:
Hertl is a physical beast. His ability to protect the puck on the boards impressed me every game.

Kinda unfair to compare him to Joe freakin' Thornton.

Yah, seriously, Joe may be one of the best puck protection players of all time. I mean, even at 36, the guy is still nearly impossible to strip the puck from, it's surreal.

Alwalys · Nov 20, 2015

TheJuxtaposer said:
Hertl is a physical beast. His ability to protect the puck on the boards impressed me every game.

Kinda unfair to compare him to Joe freakin' Thornton.

actually it's quite a compliment to compare him to joe thornton.

PacificOceanPotion · Nov 20, 2015

Still very young. He's been a tough guy to defend this season. I only see him getting better

Episkey · Nov 20, 2015

Hertl's developed into a more responsible player this season. Harder on the puck, flashes of sweet skill, good in the defensive zone. Did a great job of stepping into that 2C spot where he'll hopefully continue to play until Couture is ready. Shame he won't have more talented linemates after that.

Bowie22 · Nov 20, 2015

Fun watching him dance around high level dmen.

also, they really need to get Wingels away from him.

Lebanezer · Nov 20, 2015

Bowie22 said:
Fun watching him dance around high level dmen.

also, they really need to get Wingels away from him.

Which would put Wingels on the 4th line where he belongs.

Eid Ma Clack Shaw · Nov 20, 2015

Bowie22 said:
Fun watching him dance around high level dmen.

also, they really need to get Wingels away from him.

This, so much this.

It's so frustrating watching Hertl trying to make something happen and then Wingels loses possession.

Grave · Nov 20, 2015

Eid Ma Clack Shaw said:
This, so much this.

It's so frustrating watching Hertl trying to make something happen and then Wingels loses possession.

Or wingels shooting the puck into the goalies pads. I'd like to see a Donskoi - Hertl - Tierney line.

hohosaregood · Nov 20, 2015

I wish he could clone Karlsson. He's like the perfect plug and play complementary player. Just imagine:

Karlsson-Thornton-Pavelski
Marleau-Couture-Ward
Karlsson-Hertl-Donskoi
Karlsson-Tierney-Nieto

and I wanna see more Scandinavian connections.

Led Zappa · Nov 20, 2015

Lebanezer said:
Which would put Wingels on the 4th line where he belongs.

I would love to see this work next year:

Karlsson JT Pavs
Goldobin/Patty? Couture Ward
Donskoi Hertl Meier
Nieto Tierney Wingels (all these guys need to step up or maybe we get something good for Marleau and or sign a 4th line center.

Juxtaposer · Nov 20, 2015

Led Zappa said:
I would love to see this work next year:

Karlsson JT Pavs
Goldobin Patty? Ward
Donskoi Hertl Meier
Nieto Tierney Wingels (all these guys need to step up or maybe we sign a 4th line center.

What happened to Logan? :laugh:

But also I agree that Meier would be an awesome compliment to Hertl. He'll be in SJ either way (AHL or NHL) so I'm sure he'll get a shot with the big team at some point.

Led Zappa · Nov 20, 2015

TheJuxtaposer said:
What happened to Logan?

I caught that and changed it a bit. But I am really looking forward to what we can ice next year.

hohosaregood · Nov 20, 2015

TheJuxtaposer said:
What happened to Logan?

Patty and Logan have been combined to become Patty Couture. All the speed of a Patty and all the skills of a Logan.

Bowie22 · Nov 20, 2015

hohosaregood said:
Patty and Logan have been combined to become Patty Couture. All the speed of a Patty and all the skills of a Logan.

Sharks Twitter combined both of their faces in a picture once before.

I'm still scarred.

Juxtaposer · Nov 20, 2015

Bowie22 said:
Sharks Twitter combined both of their faces in a picture once before.

I'm still scarred.

I remember that. It was horrifying.

Tomas Hertl

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