Oufff. Not so sure about that. Your getting a 30+ year old Hertl, not a 25 year old Hertl.

That offer could land a lot of good players, id try for someone on the right side of 30. Washington is already too old.

Feels like an overpay IMO, but I'm not overly familiar with either teams needs

No, Cristall will be better than Hertl

That’s possible but I know that Hertl can be a point per game plus player for the caps and that’s what they need right now to compete for the playoffs and a cup with Ovechkin on the roster. Lack of scoring is gonna kill us. Swapping out kuznetsov for Hertl could be massive. Maybe there’s a better fit than Hertl out there for this offer.

Not sure I can find myself agreeing with the spirit of this take. The only real option I think the Capitals have in acquiring another top-six center that would fit this age range you define is Lindholm. Expanding it to the 30+ realm adds Hertl, Karlsson (not a great option) and Trocheck, should the Rangers ever feel the need to move him. Maybe Coyle? Point is, the Capitals have a very, very small group of players that they may be able to pursue, and all that matters for this club right now is Ovechkin breaking the goals scored record: I don't think a Cup is in the realm of realistic possibilities, but the playoffs are achievable.

In Hertl's case specifically, this season and the next two (the last of the Ovechkin years maybe??), he'll be a perfectly fine asset. The Capitals only need to navigate a two-year window, likely post-Ovechkin, where Hertl is going to be stuck in no-man's land again. At 50% retention and cap coming back, his 15-team trade list should be pretty accommodating for his 34- and 35-year-old seasons. Father time remains undefeated, but Hertl hasn't played the style of game where his drop off should be immediate. The knee injury from 2020 may be a concern, but he had a full 10 months to rehab it and visually, it doesn't seem to have impacted his game.

I think if Washington can get some sort of retention out of the Sharks on this deal, they're walking away in good shape. Commit to getting the record for Ovechkin.

Hertl is another Lindholm. A guy that somehow has a reputation of a 1c without ever producing either boxcar or underlying stats that you would expect from one. He has never been a ppg player in his career and has only really come close twice -- 3 and 5 years ago.

No need to give up more futures than the Sharks got from PIT for Karlsson (!!!!!!!!!!) for the privilege of paying him for what in all certainty are rapidly declining years. They need another forward, but if its not going to be an ELITE one, a trade just doesn't make sense. Overpay Reinhart or Guentzel or whoever in FA this summer and keep your picks and prospects.

Sharks say yes, Hertl probably isn't interested in waiving to end up on a team 1-2 years away from collapsing just like the Sharks did.

Agreed. Sharks say yes. Cristall is a great prospect.

How about Hertl with retention, for Kuznetsov and Ryan Leonard?

Zero chance Ryan Leonard gets moved right now unless a young superstar is coming back the other way.