As a Sharks fan, I'd be happy with that trade

Tampa passes, Hertl will get 7 x $7,500,000 long term. Noway can Tampa afford him. And JBB isn't giving up Cirelli for a rental.

Hertl is barely an upgrade. I'd go as far too say he isn't at all.

Come on now.

Where are we going?

Reality.

If you think Hertl is *much* better than Cirelli than you're the typical San Jose Hertl fanboy.

Cirelli is very good (especially as a 2-way center) but he simply doesn’t pack the offensive punch Hertl does. Hertl’s just overall better than Cirelli.

Hertl is easily an upgrade on Cirelli. Cirelli has the potential to be as good or better, but Hertl is without a doubt the better player right now. I’m a big fan of Cirelli, and I doubt Brisebois moves him, but Hertl with extension in place would be worth considering.

As I said, Brisebois would only consider the trade if an extension was basically in place for Hertl. Tampa can indeed make it work in the 7-7.5 range. Doing so does mean Palat is definitely gone after this year, which is almost a certainty regardless of whether Cirelli or Hertl is the 2C. I believe Cirelli has the potential to perhaps surpass Hertl down the line, but for now, in the middle of Tampa’s window, Hertl is a better player. I’m sure it likely doesn’t happen, but it could work for Tampa.

This trade would happen only with Hertl's extension. Not sure about the picks tho.

Not with TB's track drafting and giving a 1&3

Perhaps Tampa is giving up too much, but to get him at 50% retained(which would likely be needed to allow a little flexibility), then the least I could see SJ taking would be Cirelli+1st.

TB passes

A mistake by Tampa if Cirelli and a 1st would be all it would take to get Hertl with an extension basically in place, and Tampa straight up says not interested. Cirelli is a good 2 way 2C/3C type, but Hertl is a 1C that is still significantly better and only 27. Cirelli has, hopefully, not hit his ceiling yet, but Hertl is considerably better offensively and slightly better on defense. As good as Cirelli may be one day, if all Brisebois had to give up was another late 1st in addition to him for multiple years of prime Hertl, he would be foolish not to at least consider that. Maybe the price ends up being less if Hertl holds them hostage to just the 3 teams, but he's definitely worth a late 1st+either solid young roster player or A prospect. Having Point-Hertl down the middle(plus Colton at 3C) would be filthy for the rest of the Cup window.

Of course this is all predicated on the idea that either Palat or Killorn is out after the upcoming season. I think Palat is likely gone, and that this will be the case regardless of whether Tampa has Cirelli or Hertl(between 7-7.5 extended) as the 2C. The best reason for keeping Cirelli is that at least it gives Tampa a very slim chance of keeping both Palat and Killorn, and that it will give them a better chance of re-signing all 3 of Cirelli, Serg and Cernak in 2 years. Overall though, unless Cirelli takes another big step forward, especially offensively, Hertl would be a better option at 2C for another 2-3 seasons. For a team that is trying to pile on some more Cups before the window gets smaller, imo Hertl is the better option. I have defended Cirelli to many, so I'm fine if they stick with him as he should continue to get better.

Disagree vehemently hertle is better defensively and they can't afford 7-7.5 JBB hasn't given up a roster player at TDL nor should he.

It cokld be argued that Cirelli is even or maybe slightly better defensively, but there is no question that he is considerably behind Hertl offensively. Tampa can indeed afford Hertl at 7-7.5 if a contract goes the other way, or if Tampa had another deal at the tdl to move salary. Tampa probably couldn't get him for pick+prospect alone, unless it was the best offer(which I highly doubt). Cirelli would be the most logical trade target for SJ given their current position. Extending Hertl would be tricky , capwise, the year after next, but it's far from impossible to keep guys like Serg and Cernak even with Hertl extended. It's going to be almost impossible to keep Palat after this year unless he takes pennies on the dollar to re-sign in Tampa. It will suck to get nothing for him but doubt Tampa considers moving him at the deadline barring a ridiculous offer. Additionally, after the 22-23 season, it will be the same situation with Killorn, as the priority will have to be Cirelli, Serg, and Cernak most likely.

It's unlikely of course, but JBB has shown very much that if there's a chance to upgrade that he will go after a player. If Hertl is being shopped at the deadline, and Tampa is on his list plus he seems willing to extend, then Brisebois should be all over acquiring him. Maybe Tampa gets him for less because of the limited number of teams he will go to, but long term, the contract difference between what Hertl would likely get if he signed here and what Cireli is likely going to look at getting year after next isn't going to break Tampa cap wise. The difference would likely be ~1.5 aav(~7.5 vs ~6 most likely), and Tampa could manage that. Anyway, I guess we'll see if be becomes available, but if it comes down to 3 teams being like Tampa, Boston, and another contender, I'd rather see Tampa get him than have to face him for years to come in either the reg season or playoffs.