The Sharks reportedly made a move on Wednesday.
San Jose signed Tomas Hertl to a two-year, $6 million contact extension, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
Hertl was a pending restricted free agent, and will earn an average of $3 million per season. A first round pick in 2012, the 22-year-old just completed his standard three-year entry-level contract that earned him an average of $925,000 annually before bonuses.
[KURZ: Sharks have holes to fill with free agency approaching]
In 200 career games, Hertl has 102 points (49g, 53a). In 2015-16, he thrived in the second half of the season on the left wing of the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, finishing with 46 points (21g, 25a) in 81 games.
Hertl added six goals and five assists in 20 playoff games, but suffered a right knee injury late in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final and was forced to sit out the remainder of the series. At the time of the injury, coach Pete DeBoer called Hertl “arguably our best player” in the Final through the first two games, after he scored in Game 1 and hit three posts in Game 2.
The contract will take Hertl through the 2017-18 season, at which point he will still be a restricted free agent.
The Sharks have approximately $9.1 million in salary cap space for next season with Hertl’s deal. Notable restricted free agents that have yet to agree to terms with the Sharks include forward Matt Nieto and defenseman Dylan DeMelo.
