Bad news, everyone: it seems there’s a decent chance Tomas Hertl will need surgery. Friend of the Blog Kevin Kurz posted this exchange with Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer:

Q: Anything you can tell us about Hertl? DeBoer: “I’ve got some early reports, but nothing concrete yet. … I don’t have enough information to give you anything concrete on it yet. When I do, I will.” Q: Are the early reports encouraging or discouraging? “Kind of right down the middle (laughs). I’m not BS-ing you. I think any time you have an issue it’s whether it’s serious enough that you need surgery or you don’t need surgery. I think that’s what it is. That’s the process they’re going through.”

The common assumption is that the injury is to his right knee, which Hertl has already needed surgery on before. He did not need surgery over the summer after injuring his right knee during the Stanley Cup Final.

The Sharks are in deep trouble if Hertl misses significant time. He, like every other elite player in the NHL, is not replaceable. There are things San Jose can do to mitigate the damage, but that’s about it.

Now we play a waiting game. Here’s to hoping Hertl doesn’t need surgery and that regardless of the extent of the injury he has a speedy recovery.