The forward tore the ACL and MCL early in the first period of a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 29. He took a shot before Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev fell, slid into him and made contact with his left knee. Hertl left the ice under his own power and later tested the knee during a media timeout but did not return to the game. He will miss the remainder of the season.
"We talked yesterday by text and he was showing pictures of his knee and his surgery," coach Bob Boughner said Thursday. "He's gone through it before. I think the worst part is behind [him], now rehab is going to be the hard work coming up. He comes back from those injuries and he works so hard to get back, so that's a good thing."
Hertl had surgery to repair damaged ligaments in his right knee as a rookie in 2013-14. He injured his right knee in Game 2 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, missed the rest of the best-of-7 series and had surgery for a sprained right knee during the 2016-17 season.
Hertl was San Jose's representative at the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game and scored five goals to help the Pacific Division win the tournament. He is tied for second on the Sharks with Timo Meier in goals (16) and Evander Kane in points (36).
The Sharks (23-27-4) play the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SNW, NHL.TV).
