Marc-Édouard Vlasic (Croatian: Vlašić; born March 30, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Vlasic holds the team record for most games played by a defenceman for the Sharks.

Marc-Édouard Vlasic
Vlasic with the San Jose Sharks in 2008
Born (1987-03-30) March 30, 1987 (age 37)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team San Jose Sharks
National team  Canada
NHL draft 35th overall, 2005
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 2006–present

Playing career

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Vlasic began playing organized hockey in Montreal at the age of five under his father's coaching. As a result of his skills, Vlasic was bumped up to the novice A level at the age of seven and eventually advanced to the midget-AAA Lac St. Louis Lions.[1] He then played for the midget-AAA West Island Lions from 2002–03 being drafted to the Quebec City Remparts of the QMJHL.[2] Vlasic was chosen by the Remparts in the fourth round of the 2003 QMJHL draft after his Lac St. Louis Lions coach, Guy Boucher, convinced Patrick Roy to draft him.[1] Vlasic played two games with the Lions during the 2003–04 season[3] before being recalled the Remparts on September 16, 2003, for the remainder of the season.[4]

Although Vlasic was not originally selected to compete in the 2004 CHL Canada/Russia Series, he was chosen to replace an injured Sidney Crosby on the roster. At the time of the selection, Vlasic had accumulated two goals and nine assists through 26 games.[5]

San Jose Sharks (2006–present)

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Vlasic (bottom) defending Shane Doan during a game against the Phoenix Coyotes in 2006.

Vlasic was drafted by the San Jose Sharks 35th overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft, using a pick exchanged for goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff.[6] After making the Sharks' opening night roster at the age of 19, he made his NHL debut on October 5, 2006, against the St. Louis Blues.[7] He subsequently scored his first career NHL goal on November 22, 2006, against the Los Angeles Kings. Upon scoring the goal, Vlasic became the second youngest defenseman in franchise history to score their first NHL goal at the age of 19 years and 237 days.[8] He finished the 2006–07 season with three goals and 23 assists for 26 points through 81 games. As such, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team alongside teammate Matt Carle.[7]

On August 27, 2008, the San Jose Sharks signed Vlasic to a four-year, $12.4 million contract extension that would keep him with the team through the 2012–13 season.[9] On July 11, 2012, the Sharks signed Vlasic to a five-year, $21 million contract extension that would keep him with the Sharks through the 2017–18 season.[10]

Early in the 2012–13 season, Vlasic became the second player from the 2005 draft class to play 500 games, and later scored his first career Stanley Cup playoffs goal, during the 2013 playoffs, against Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings.[11]

On July 1, 2017, he signed a $56 million, eight-year contract extension with the Sharks.[12]

Vlasic played his 1,000th NHL game on December 14, 2019; he was only the 17th player to play his first 1,000 games with one team.[13]

Vlasic suffered an upper back injury during the off-season which resulted in him missing the start of the Sharks' 2024 training camp.[14]

International play

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Medal record
ice hockey
Representing   Canada
Winter Olympics
  2014 Sochi
World Championships
  2009 Bern
  2017 Germany/France
World Cup of Hockey
  2016 Toronto

Vlasic was named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team where his team won Gold against Sweden 3–0.[15]

Following the Sharks defeat by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Vlasic was invited to play for Team Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.[16]

Personal life

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Of Croatian descent,[17][18] Marc-Édouard has three younger brothers: Thomas, Charles, and James, the last two being twins.[19] He attended West Island College in Quebec.[citation needed] He married his high school sweetheart, Martine.[20] His cousin, Emma Vlasic, played for the Connecticut Whale of the Premier Hockey Federation, and was former captain of Yale's women's hockey team, and her younger brother, Alex, plays for the Chicago Blackhawks.[21][22]

The Quebec Remparts retired Vlasic's number 44 in 2015.[23]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 West Island Lions QMAAA 41 4 6 10 14 9 0 3 3 0
2003–04 West Island Lions QMAAA 2 1 1 2 0
2003–04 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 41 1 9 10 4 5 0 1 1 0
2004–05 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 70 5 25 30 33 13 2 7 9 2
2005–06 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 66 16 57 73 57 23 5 24 29 10
2006–07 San Jose Sharks NHL 81 3 23 26 18 11 0 1 1 2
2007–08 San Jose Sharks NHL 82 2 12 14 24 13 0 1 1 0
2007–08 Worcester Sharks AHL 1 0 2 2 0
2008–09 San Jose Sharks NHL 82 6 30 36 42 6 0 1 1 0
2009–10 San Jose Sharks NHL 64 3 13 16 33 15 0 3 3 4
2010–11 San Jose Sharks NHL 80 4 14 18 18 18 0 3 3 4
2011–12 San Jose Sharks NHL 82 4 19 23 40 5 0 0 0 2
2012–13 San Jose Sharks NHL 48 3 4 7 29 11 1 1 2 6
2013–14 San Jose Sharks NHL 81 5 19 24 38 5 1 2 3 0
2014–15 San Jose Sharks NHL 70 9 14 23 23
2015–16 San Jose Sharks NHL 67 8 31 39 48 24 1 11 12 12
2016–17 San Jose Sharks NHL 75 6 22 28 35 6 0 3 3 2
2017–18 San Jose Sharks NHL 81 11 21 32 34 10 0 2 2 6
2018–19 San Jose Sharks NHL 72 3 22 25 10 18 3 5 8 4
2019–20 San Jose Sharks NHL 70 5 10 15 10
2020–21 San Jose Sharks NHL 51 1 5 6 8
2021–22 San Jose Sharks NHL 75 3 11 14 18
2022–23 San Jose Sharks NHL 78 1 17 18 16
2023–24 San Jose Sharks NHL 57 6 6 12 26
NHL totals 1,296 83 293 376 470 142 6 33 39 42

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2009 Canada WC   5 0 0 0 4
2012 Canada WC 5th 2 0 0 0 0
2014 Canada OG   6 0 0 0 0
2016 Canada WCH   6 0 4 4 0
2017 Canada WC   10 1 1 2 2
2018 Canada WC 4th 6 1 0 1 0
Senior totals 35 2 5 7 6

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
NHL
NHL All-Rookie Team 2006–07 [7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Cowan, Stu (June 3, 2016). "Sharks' Marc-Édouard Vlasic has Montreal fans in his corner". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  2. ^ Kramberger, Albert (February 5, 2014). "West Island native will lace up in Sochi". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "Marc-Édouard Vlasic". Elite Prospects. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  4. ^ "Un coup d'oeil chez nos équipes" (in French). Réseau des sports. September 16, 2003. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  5. ^ "Crosby n'affrontera pas les Russes" (in French). Réseau des sports. November 21, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Kiprusoff saves his best for Sharks". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 10, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Kurz, Kevin (December 14, 2019). "Marc-Edouard Vlasic's path to 1,000 games started with a remarkable, breakthrough rookie season". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "Skater Records: Youngest Defensemen, First NHL Goal". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  9. ^ "Sharks' Vlasic gets extension". SFGate. August 28, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Sharks sign Vlasic to multi-year extension". Sportsnet. July 11, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "Best of 2012-13: Vlasic Infographic - 8/6/2013". National Hockey League. August 6, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "Sharks Sign Vlasic to an Eight-Year Contract Extension". National Hockey League. July 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  13. ^ McKeon, Ross (December 13, 2019). "Vlasic, set for 1,000th game with Sharks, has been 'Steady Eddie'". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  14. ^ Miller, Max (October 14, 2024). "Sharks Defenseman Reveals Injury That Kept Him Out Of Training Camp". The Hockey News. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Lomon, Chris (February 28, 2014). "Vlasic Has Gold, Sets Sights on Silver". NHLPA. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Canada adds Sharks defense-man Vlasic to world hockey championship team". sportsnet.ca. May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "New York Rangersi kod kuće bolji od San Josea" (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. November 1, 2011. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  18. ^ Matić, Nino. "Hrvat postigao prekrasan autogol u NHL-u" (in Croatian). Večernji list. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  19. ^ Cowan, Stu (June 3, 2016). "Sharks' Marc-Edouard Vlasic has Montreal fans in his corner". The Gazette. Montreal. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  20. ^ Cowan, Stu (January 2, 2018). "Stu Cowan: A chilly Montreal homecoming for Sharks' Marc-Édouard Vlasic". The Gazette. Montreal. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  21. ^ "THREE THINGS: What you need to know about Alex Vlasic". National Hockey League. June 22, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  22. ^ "Vlasic hoping to add to family legacy at 2019 NHL Draft". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  23. ^ "Le chandail de Marc-Édouard Vlasic retiré par les Remparts". remparts.ca (in French). March 18, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
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