- Editor's note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California's Sharks coverage for the 2021-22 season. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
LOS ANGELES — The smile is back.
Yesterday, Tomas Hertl washed his hands of all the speculation about his pending free agency by re-signing with the Sharks for eight years and $65.1 million.
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It hasn’t been an easy season for Hertl, especially during a late January to early March stretch where he went 12 games without a goal.
“This is something that’s been weighing on him, obviously,” Erik Karlsson shared this afternoon. “He’s one of those guys, if you know him, he doesn’t take these things lightly, he cares deeply about being in San Jose, being a part of this organization. So I know that all these things, all these decisions, have had an effect on him personally.”
Coach Bob Boughner shared his star defenseman’s assessment: “You can see that it was wearing on him. He must have known something was up (laughs) in the last few days. His game and his personality just seemed more relaxed. He’s back.”