Quoting: FunMustBeAlways
"I wonder if San Jose will want to re-sign me, and if I’ll want to stay there." isn’t a definitive answer either way though. Not saying Hertl leaving isn’t possible, but it’s dependent on a lot of factors like if Kane is moved on from and if the team is good or not. He’s probably not confident about re-upping in SJ because of the aforementioned factors as well as the teams lack of communication.
I just think drawing the conclusion that he 100% wants out of here is super hasty.
1. I believe the Sharks are going to try to hang onto Kane.
Kane still has term left on his deal at a reasonable cap hit and he is everything you would want in a hockey player on the ice.
Selling off Kane would mean that the Sharks are 100% tanking and rebuilding for the foreseeable future
2. Apparently, the NHL's investigation into whether Kane engaged in match fixing was squashed.
Mrs. Kane refused to be interviewed, which would lead the league to believe that she was only talking smack about him on social media.
She almost destroyed the family's biggest source of income and the only means to pay off some of his gambling debts with a single post on social media.
Incredible
3. As for whether the team is good enough to keep Hertl, all I can say is that the last two years paint a very grim picture for the future.
For that reason, Hertl wanting out is well within the realm of possibilities for the Sharks this upcoming season.
Nevertheless, buying out Martin Jones and making James Reimer and Adin Hill your goalie tandem could make a world of difference.
When in a tough game, the rest of the team will get a morale boost and a surge of confidence if they know the guy between the pipes can make a save.
We'll see how things play out.