Hertl says his focus this season isn't on his next deal

Tomas Hertl and the San Jose Sharks are yet to discuss a new contract extension, but the forward is more worried about being a leader for his team. He is currently wanting to teach the younger players on his team how to play in the NHL the right way.

Hertl recently returned to San Jose for training camp, but he has still not talked to the Sharks general manager Doug Wilson.

"We'll see when I get there for camp and stuff, we'll see if we get some talks. If not, I'm not worried," he said. "I'm just going to play the best hockey and not think about it because if you're overthinking or [thinking] this is my contract year I have to score goals because it'll help."

"For me, it doesn't matter because I think I've proven I can be a good player, I've shown I can be a leader and I just want to do that and not think about my next deal."

Hertl's current four-year contract expires after this season, and as a potential unrestricted free agent, his name has been subject to trade rumors. The 27-year-old doesn't think this will be a problem. He believes that he needs to put the distractions aside and be more of a mentor, especially after the team has continued to lose various pieces of its leadership group.

"I'm not thinking about what will happen next season, will the Sharks extend me or if they don't want me there. I'm just going to play my best hockey and help my teammates," Hertl said at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour on Thursday. "We have a lot of young guys, so I want to help them and just show them how 'Jumbo' Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski showed me how to be in the League, how to be a leader, how to play in the NHL."

"So I want to help them, you know? And hopefully I stay healthy and we'll see how it goes," Hertl said. "I don't think [about] if I sign right now or not. I just want to play the best hockey I can, even better than years before and help my team win."

nhl.com

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