Trade Coming For Golden Knights' Tomas Hertl
Per Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, re-signing Pavel Dorofeyev may cost the Golden Knights Tomas Hertl, with the Minnesota Wild identified as a team that might have interest in Hertl as a center.
The Cap Crunch Driving the Decision
Vegas reached the Western Conference Final and has a long list of financial commitments to sort out this offseason.
Dorofeyev is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights coming off what is likely his second straight 30-goal season, and he has earned a significant raise from his current $1.835 million cap hit.
His projected next deal is either a six-year contract worth $8.465 million annually or a short-term two-year deal at $5.649 million per season.
Nick Kypreos: Re Tomas Hertl/Golden Knights: He could draw interest from Minnesota - Sportsnet (6/22)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 23, 2026
The Golden Knights also need to re-sign Rasmus Andersson, whom they gave up significant assets to acquire, making it difficult to bring everyone back.
Vegas is projected to have roughly $13 to $14 million in cap space to work with, assuming Alex Pietrangelo goes on season-ending LTIR again, and that money has to stretch across multiple extensions.
Why Hertl Is the Candidate
Hertl carries a $6.75 million cap hit, and clearing that number would open significant room to extend Dorofeyev and Andersson.
The dynamic around Hertl has shifted dramatically over the past year.
Last summer, rumors swirled that Hertl was on the chopping block with teams like the Carolina Hurricanes showing interest, before GM Kelly McCrimmon reassured the Czech Olympian that he was not going anywhere.
But Dorofeyev has since taken the reins as the team's go-to sniper, leading the power play with a franchise-record 20 goals on the unit, which makes the bumper role Hertl occupies more replaceable than it once was.
HOLY MOLY HERTL 😮💨 #StanleyCup
— NHL (@NHL) June 3, 2026
🇺🇸: ABC
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports pic.twitter.com/JiMNgozSAy
The Minnesota Wild make sense as a trade partner given their long-standing need for help down the middle, and Hertl's veteran presence and two-way game would fit a Minnesota team looking to take the next step.
Vegas also has the option of clearing Adin Hill's $6.25 million cap hit for the next five years as an alternative path to creating space, given the emergence of Carter Hart and a deep goaltending prospect pool.
McCrimmon has never been afraid to make difficult decisions or move off contracts the organization believes will hold it back.
This offseason, the math may force one of those decisions to involve Hertl.
