Hertl the latest to withdraw with injury; opts to put NHL club "first"
KANATA, Ont. — San Jose Sharks winger Tomas Hertl is the latest player to pull out of the World Cup of Hockey with an injury.
The 22-year-old withdrew from the Czech Republic squad, citing the need to be ready for the start of the Sharks regular season. San Jose’s general manager, Doug Wilson, said he was pleased Hertl had “chosen to put his commitment to the Sharks and his teammates first.”
That line of thinking has been common in the weeks leading up to the revived two-week tournament. About a dozen players have withdrawn because of injury concerns, including Jamie Benn and Duncan Keith from Team Canada.
“I know he’s disappointed to not be able to represent his country,” Wilson said of Hertl in a statement. “But Tomas is on track to be ready for the start of the NHL season and he doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that.”