Seems like just a bunch of stuff.

I honestly don’t think the return for Hertl is going to be huge due to his age and contract.

This package nets the Sharks a young NHL center with potential, a 1st, and a decent prospect in Gunler. Everything else is to make the money work.

Kotkaniemi stinks and has one of the worst contracts (when factoring term) in the league.

Teams usually get assets for "making the money work"

Kotkaniemi isn't a good value contract but it isn't even close to the worst contracts... He's had an awful run of puck luck but he's been okay. There are about 4 or 5 long-term contracts off the top of my head that I can think of that are worse value than KK.

I disagree with your assessment on Kotkaniemi. I still think there’s good middle 6 center upside there. He’s only 23.

Go look at the Karlsson trade. The Sharks had to retain and take on a bunch of “ bad” contracts to make the money work and then all they got was a 1st.

Karlsson is 4 years older and makes like 3 million dollars more

And was the reigning Norris Trophy winner coming off a 100 point season as a defenseman.

Cool. Now do fleury after winning the vezina

How does that help your point? Vegas essentially gave Fleury away for free after winning the vezina because of his contract.

That age and contract matter greatly.

Hertl is much younger and has a much better contract

The trade is just hertl for Kotkaniemi, a first, and a prospect.

Kotkaniemi is very underwhelming, the first will be super late, and this isn't an A tier prospect or anything. Personally, Hertl is a future captain and I would rather want something more overwhelming than this. His contract is not bad, I hate that memo. He has the ability to steal a game and give the sharks a couple years and he will be a Leader for the young players that surround him. The sharks need leadership, and there comes a point where you cannot just trade everyone for the sake of trading them.

Hertl Turns 36 in November the final year of his contract. Karlsson turns 37 in May of the final year of his contract. Karlsson's contract is much larger, but is also a better player (IMO). That was my point about the 100 point season.

This is if Hertl asks to be traded to a contender.

Canes would be looking to add to their C core, not subtract from it. Hertl would make a lot of sense, but isn’t his season over due to injury?

Canes would probably be willing to give up a good amount of futures for Hertl, and off the roster guys like Drury and cap balancers in TDA and Raanta, but I don’t see much else coming off the roster for Hertl.

He is having a minor surgery, his season is over because he plays for San jose

Maybe swap Kotkaniemi for Felix Unger Sorum?

if Hertl can be LTIRed until the playoffs, sure why not. The trend of being able to stow away a high dollar cap hit until the playoffs has worked twice lately.

FUS is on the list of untouchables alongside Nikishin, Nadeau, and probably Morrow as well. Canes would probably be willing to part with either Blake or Trikozov instead.