As if things couldn’t get any worse for Sharks fans, the team will be without Tomas Hertl for the rest of the season. The Sharks reported today that Hertl tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during last night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks and will be out the remainder of the season. There’s no word yet on if he will need surgery.
#SJSharks forward Tomas Hertl has suffered a torn ACL and MCL and will be out for the remainder of the season.
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 30, 2020
The injury happened when Hertl drove to the net in the first period.
Tomas Hertl will NOT return tonight.#SJSharks
pic.twitter.com/aAkoAQVSEI— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) January 30, 2020
Quinn Hughes was defending and Chris Tanev slid across the ice to take away the shot. Tanev collided with both Hughes and Hertl and the three of them slid into the end boards. Hertl was pinned against the boards and then fell awkwardly. Midway through the game he tested out the knee during a stoppage in play, but something didn’t feel right. He did not return to the game.
This is devastating news for Sharks fans. Not only is Hertl out for the remainder of this season, but it could ripple into next season as well. You’ll remember in 2017, Joe Thornton played in the playoffs with a torn ACL and MCL. He had surgery and needed six months of rehab. Even when he was back on the ice, he wasn’t the same Jumbo. He also suffered an infection post-recovery. Admittedly Hertl’s more than 10 years younger than Thornton, but it’s a tough injury to come back from no matter how old you are.
Though this time the injury is to his left knee, this is now Hertl’s third season cut short by a knee injury, having previously injured his right knee during his rookie season and again in Game 2 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
As of this morning, Hertl (36 points) is tied for second on the team in scoring with Logan Couture. Erik Karlsson has 37 points this season and leads the team. With Hertl and Couture out, an already depleted offense just got worse.
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