Hertl + has to be going the other way if you want Couts, you want the 2nd best contract in the league (behind MacKinnon) you have to trade your best contract and a solid prospect tied to it. Not your arguably worst contract

Hertl is younger, has a more multidimensional game, and is only paid about a mil more. Why would the sharks EVER do that?

1 year younger and Couturier is the far better 2-way player. Thats why

Hertl has a better shot, and also much more physicality. Id say they are very even players but Hertl fits the sharks game way more.

Hertl and Couturier basically hold the same value.... Hertl's tremendously underrated. He's more valuable than Couture IMO for SJ, even if we disregard age/contract/etc.

Uh, no. Hertl is younger, more powerful, better shot. SJ is not trading Hertl and certainly not for Couturier. I'd pay Hertl even more to keep him over Couturier. Also I wouldn't move Vlasic for Couturier even. Hertl is still yet to have his best seasons as Dustin Browns knee slowed the first two years of his career. He is the most important forward in SJ and will be for a few years to come - Couturier does not replace that.

Dont get me wrong I like Couturier but I think he is more comparable to Couture but not even close to as clutch in the playoffs. So really, I wouldn't trade anyone in our top six in SJ for him. It just isn't a fit.