The Vegas Golden Knights will have to proceed without Tomas Hertl for an undetermined period.
The team`s general manager, Kelly McCrimmon, announced on Monday`s VGK Insiders broadcast that the forward did not accompany the team on their three-game away series. Hertl is still being evaluated to ascertain the extent of his injury.
McCrimmon explained to Daren Millard, the show`s host, that Hertl is scheduled for tests, some of which were conducted today and further ones planned for tomorrow, to accurately diagnose the injury.
Hertl sustained an injury in the final moments of Sunday`s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was forcefully checked into the boards by Emil Lilleberg following a breakaway attempt. Consequently, Hertl exited the game and did not return. Lilleberg was penalized with a two-minute minor for boarding on the play.
McCrimmon expressed his disagreement with the penalty call, stating his primary concern was Hertl`s well-being rather than the game`s outcome being influenced by a power play. He also mentioned the rule changes since their playoff series with San Jose, allowing officials to review major penalties and adjust them to minors or rescind them altogether. In this instance, the penalty was reduced to a minor, a decision McCrimmon openly questioned.
Head coach Bruce Cassidy described the hit post-game as `senseless,` especially considering Hertl was, in his view, performing at his peak.
The experienced 31-year-old player has accumulated 30 goals and 28 assists in 68 games this season, including four goals in his last two appearances.
Vegas secured Hertl, a long-tenured San Jose Sharks player, in a significant trade during the previous NHL trade deadline.
In positive updates for the Golden Knights, defenseman Shea Theodore has travelled with the team and is projected to rejoin the lineup before their return to home ice. Theodore, 29, has been out of action since sustaining an injury during Canada`s opening match of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
