Marc-Édouard Vlasic

This article is about the Canadian ice hockey defenseman. For the American football quarterback, see Mark Vlasic.

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

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)

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

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

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

Regular season and playoffs

				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

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

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

References

1. 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. 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.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database