Blades of Teal
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Tomas Hertl Developing Nicely For San Jose Sharks

By Patrick Leiva

Apr 2, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) celebrates with teammates after a goal during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) celebrates with teammates after a goal during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tomas Hertl is displaying many of the offensive abilities that made him a first-round pick of the Sharks in 2012.

Heading into this season, Tomas Hertl was still a mystery for the San Jose Sharks. While many fans love Hertl’s fun-loving personality, he wasn’t able to showcase his talents to his fullest abilities through his first two seasons in teal.

After making quite the statement in his first 30-plus games in San Jose, a serious knee injury derailed his upside. It’s taken him a good year-and-a-half to fully recover and begin to look like the Hertl of old.

However, following a mid-year upgrade to the top line, Hertl has flourished and given the Sharks one of the most dynamic offensive lines in all of the NHL.

The 22-year-old forward played a pivotal role in San Jose’s come-from-behind victory in Nashville last night as he scored two goals in the third period to send the game into overtime.

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With those two markers, Hertl surpassed the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his young NHL career as he ranks fourth on the Sharks with 21 goals and 45 points.

The impressive part about Hertl’s season is how he’s really taken his game to another level. Through December, Hertl had just four goals and 11 assists to go along with a minus-four rating. Peter DeBoer was asking him to play center as Logan Couture was out with injury, and Hertl was struggling to establish himself in the center of the ice.

However, a lineup change from DeBoer prior to their Jan 9. contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs sparked Hertl and the rest has been history. Hertl was moved up alongside Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski and Hertl provided immediate dividends. He recorded two goals and one assist with a plus-four rating as he showcased a glimpse of what was to come.

As many will remember, most of Hertl’s best work at the NHL level has come as a winger alongside Thornton, and that’s been the case this season as well. Since the promotion, Hertl has netted 17 goals, 13 assists and 40 points to go along with a staggering plus-21 rating. Also, Hertl ranks right at the top with Thornton in Corsi For percentage for the Sharks at more than 56 percent. Pretty impressive numbers.

It’s been quite the turnaround for Hertl who looks like a different player. Hertl is stronger on the puck and isn’t afraid to mix it up in front of the net. He’s displaying the confidence and playmaking abilities that made him a first-round selection of the Sharks in 2012.

Next: Sharks Come Back To Down Preds In Shootout

While San Jose would like Hertl to develop into a top-flight center, it’s clear that his immediate impact is on the wing. He’s providing the kind of depth and scoring the Sharks will need if they want to make a deep run this postseason.

For Sharks fans, they love seeing the fun-loving Hertl again. His exuberance is infectious and any one can tell that he looks like a completely different player. His development has taken San Jose from an after thought to a serious contender to make some noise when the playoffs get started next week.

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