Marc-Edouard Vlasic To Play 1,300th Game For Sharks
When the San Jose Sharks take on the Columbus Blue Jackets this evening, Marc-Edouard Vlasic will become the 21st defenseman in NHL history to play 1,300 games.
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images - Marc-Edouard Vlasic To Play 1,300th Game For SharksWhen the San Jose Sharks take on the Columbus Blue Jackets this evening, Marc-Edouard Vlasic will become the 21st defenseman in NHL history to play 1,300 games.
Vlasic has never been the Sharks' most offensive player, but for many years, he was known as one of, if not the best, shutdown defensemen in the NHL. That ability earned him a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2014 Olympic Games.
Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky was complimentary of the 37-year-old after dealing with an injury to start the season.
"The one thing I'll say about Pickles is he worked really hard to improve his game, as well as get in shape and with conditioning, to get ready to play hockey," Warsofsky said.
Vlasic missed all of training camp and the first half of the season with an upper-body injury. He made his season debut on Jan 2. against the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a primary assist.
"I saw more leadership with him, coming into effect last year, my second year here. I thought he really stepped up last year, as he's extremely coachable for a veteran guy. He speaks up when he needs to. He's interacting with his teammates. He's taking that mentorship with Henry Thruns and the younger defenseman, the Mukhamadullins, and helping them while the game is going on [when] there's momentum change [or] the game speeds up and slows down. He's got a great feel for that," Warsofsky said. "I think since last year, he's done a really good job of being a really good teammate and helping as a veteran."
Vlasic hasn't won any individual awards but told Curtis Pashelka that the NHL should adopt a Best Defensive Defenseman award.
"I hope down the road they give out two trophies," Vlasic told Pashelka. "They have a Vezina and a Jennings. They have two for goalies. They have one for D-men, two for goalies, and the rest are forwards. That makes no sense."
Vlasic's game isn't where it used to be, but he's been serviceable in his third-pair role with Jan Rutta in the three games he's played.
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