Sharks star willing to take paycut if team is competitive

San Jose Sharks star Tomas Hertl recently said that he would consider taking less money to sign a long-term contract with the team.

Hertl, who is entering the final season of a four year contract, pointed to former teammate Joe Thornton in how he wants to handle negotiations.

"[Thornton] was one of the guys, he could take way more money, but he takes less because he wants a really good team," Hertl said Friday. "I like that idea. You can go somewhere else, sign the maximum, even maybe too much, but you're losing for the next eight years."

"I don't want to be in this position. I just don't want to say I will take less and just take it for the team, but I think I'm a little bit for that idea."

The Sharks performance this season could help show what happens in the offseason. San Jose has missed the playoffs the past two seasons after making it 14 of the previous 15 seasons. The team could look to move him at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline if the team fails to contend.

"I've had several conversations with his agent," Wilson said. "And when you have conversations with agents, they are always kept in confidence. Tomas knows how we feel about him, I'll leave it at that. I've talked to his agent several times. Tomas and I are going to talk in this next little while and it will be kept in confidence between the two of us. But I think everybody knows how we feel about him."

Hertl has 323 points (151 goals, 172 assists) in 505 games in the NHL. He also was a main part of helping San Jose reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, and his hopes have to be helping the team return to contention.

"At the end of the day for [Wilson], it's business," Hertl said. "He has to make the best decision for his team. We'll see in a couple of weeks and when we talk to him during the year. Right now, I'm not really thinking about it or looking forward or calling my agent [asking] hey I want to know in a month or something. I want to just play hockey and help the team, and these things we'll figure out."

nhl.com

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