Tomáš Hertl Bio
Tomáš Hertl (born 12 November 1993) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 191 centimeters tall and listed at 98 kilograms, Hertl combines size with skill as a two-way forward who has produced offense at every level of the game.
Drafted 17th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Hertl spent his first 11 NHL seasons in San Jose before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in March 2024. He is also recognized as the first player born in the modern Czech Republic, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, to appear in an NHL game.
Early Life and Background
Tomáš Hertl was born on 12 November 1993 in Prague, Czech Republic. Growing up in the Czech capital, he was introduced to ice hockey at a young age and joined the youth system of HC Slavia Praha, one of the most historic clubs in Czech hockey. Prague’s strong hockey culture and the tradition of Slavia Praha helped shape his early development as a forward.
Within Slavia’s program, Hertl progressed through the under-18 and under-20 squads during the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons. In his first year, he was the third-highest scorer on the U20 team with 12 goals and 26 assists, while adding 13 goals and 10 assists at the U18 level. The following season, he was one of four U20 players to reach the 40-point mark, finishing with 14 goals and 27 assists.
Path to the NHL
Hertl’s final season with Slavia Praha came in 2011–12, when he was the club’s fourth-leading scorer in the Czech Extraliga with 11 goals and 15 assists. His play at the top Czech senior level earned him strong reviews from scouts ahead of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him fifth among European skaters, while outlets such as Sports Illustrated, ISS Hockey, The Hockey News, and TSN placed him among the top international prospects.
The San Jose Sharks selected Hertl with the 17th overall pick in the 2012 draft, making him the first European player taken with the Sharks’ top pick since Lukáš Kašpar in 2004. After the draft, he returned to Slavia Praha for one more season and posted 30 points in 43 games, finishing his Czech career before crossing the Atlantic.
Tomáš Hertl Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
The Sharks signed Tomáš Hertl to a three-year entry-level contract on 3 June 2013. He opened the preseason on a line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns and made his NHL debut on 3 October 2013 against the Vancouver Canucks, recording his first career point with an assist on a goal by Burns. At 19, he became the first teenager to play in a season opener for the Sharks since Marc-Édouard Vlasic in 2006.
Two days later, on 5 October 2013, Hertl scored his first two NHL goals against Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes, becoming the youngest Shark with a two-goal game since Patrick Marleau in 1999. On 8 October 2013, he netted four goals in a 9–2 win over the New York Rangers, becoming the fourth-youngest player in NHL history to record a four-goal game and the first Shark with four goals in a single game since Owen Nolan in 1995. He was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for October after leading all rookies with eight goals and 11 points in 13 games, before a December 2013 knee injury cut short his rookie season.
San Jose Sharks Breakthrough (2015–2023)
Following recovery from surgery on his right MCL and PCL, Hertl returned in April 2014 and scored his first playoff goal on 17 April 2014 against the Los Angeles Kings. On 29 June 2016, he signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension with the Sharks, and on 2 July 2018 he agreed to a four-year extension, cementing his long-term role in San Jose.
During the 2018–19 season, Hertl recorded 74 points in 77 games and helped the Sharks reach the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the first round against the Vegas Golden Knights, he scored a short-handed goal in double overtime of Game 6 to force a Game 7, which San Jose won 5–4 in overtime. The Sharks later defeated the Colorado Avalanche in seven games before being eliminated by the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Finals. In January 2020, Hertl participated in the NHL All-Star Game as an alternate and became the first Sharks player to score four goals in an All-Star contest. A few weeks later, on 29 January 2020, he suffered season-ending ACL and MCL tears.
Vegas Golden Knights Era (2024–Present)
On 16 March 2022, Hertl signed an eight-year contract extension with the Sharks, but on 8 March 2024 he was traded, along with 2025 and 2027 third-round picks, to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for prospect David Edstrom and a 2025 first-round pick. Hertl made his Vegas debut on 8 April 2024, recording an assist in a 4–3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
Now wearing the Golden Knights sweater, Hertl brought veteran scoring touch and a physical, two-way presence to a contending roster. His move to Vegas marked the end of an 11-season tenure in San Jose and opened a new chapter in his NHL career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hertl is known for his large frame, physical play, and responsible defensive game, attributes that scouts have long compared to players such as Martin Hanzal. While not the quickest skater, his agility and willingness to drive to the net make him a dangerous finisher, and he is considered an effective passer who can produce offense when given space to shoot.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hertl’s four-goal game against the New York Rangers on 8 October 2013 stands as one of the defining moments of his career, and his double-overtime short-handed goal against the Golden Knights in the 2019 playoffs is another signature highlight. He is also a historic figure in Czech hockey as the first player born in the modern Czech Republic to play in the NHL.
Tomáš Hertl Career Wins
While Hertl’s value is best measured by goals and points rather than race wins, his career is highlighted by memorable goal-scoring performances at every level. From his early production with HC Slavia Praha to his four-goal NHL nights with the Sharks and Golden Knights, he has consistently delivered key goals in high-pressure situations.
NHL Highlights
Hertl’s most notable NHL performances include his four-goal game against the Rangers in October 2013, his 74-point season in 2018–19, and his four-goal performance at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game. His first career playoff goal came on 17 April 2014 against the Kings, and his Game 6 overtime goal against the Golden Knights remains one of the most dramatic playoff moments in recent Sharks history.
International Performances
Representing the Czech Republic, Hertl competed at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships, the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, the 2013 and 2015 IIHF World Championships, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He was the youngest player on the Czech team at the 2013 IIHF World Championship.
Tomáš Hertl Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hertl grew up in Prague within the strong hockey culture of the Czech Republic, and his development through HC Slavia Praha’s youth system reflects the country’s deep tradition of producing skilled forwards.
Personal Life
Tomáš Hertl and his wife are parents to two sons. He continues his professional career in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 NHL season, Hertl is firmly established as a key contributor for the Vegas Golden Knights. After recording an assist in his Vegas debut in April 2024, he is expected to play a top-six forward role and contribute on both the power play and penalty kill.
His combination of size, two-way responsibility, and playoff experience makes him a valuable asset for a Golden Knights team with Stanley Cup aspirations. Hertl’s consistency as a 20-to-30-goal scorer, when healthy, gives Vegas reliable secondary scoring behind its top stars.
As the 2025 season progresses, Hertl’s health, production, and chemistry with his linemates will be central storylines. A strong campaign could reinforce his reputation as one of the top Czech forwards of his generation and help drive the Golden Knights deep into the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.