San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic hasn't practiced with the team since the start of training camp due to an upper-body injury.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic hasn't practiced with the team since the start of training camp due to an upper-body injury.

The veteran has been itching to get back on the ice for practice and has been skating on his own recently. 

"It sucks. I want to be out there," Vlasic told reporters last week. "I was excited, [I'm] still  excited about this group, and it's unfortunate that I missed all that time."

The defenseman has been dealing with an "upper back" injury but wouldn't get into specifics. Vlasic stated that this is something he's dealt with for an extended period. 

"I felt something a long time now," Vlasic said. "I guess I didn't notice it, but it's what, playing 18 years in the league, you get stuff that finally builds up and catches up to."

Vlasic said he couldn't pinpoint the exact moment this injury occurred. He said he'd skated last week with no setbacks.

"It's been good to be back and skating. I didn't skate for a little bit," Vlasic said. "I skated this whole week, [but] before that [I] took a couple days [then] skated. This whole week, I've skated more than I have in the last two, three weeks. It's nice to be out there with [Shakir Mukhamadullin] and [Thomas Bordeleau]."

Vlasic told reporters that he's never dealt with an injury this severe.

"Nothing this severe. Sometimes I've woken up after games feeling bad, but I thought it was just normal from playing a hockey game," Vlasic said. "I'm a guy that doesn't really spend much time in the trainers' room, so maybe I should have.

"I'd say, within two weeks, I'm back, for sure."

Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky wouldn't commit to a timeline for a potential return for Vlasic. 

"I think he's getting closer. I have to talk to the training staff on exactly when that date will be," Warsofsky said. "We don't have a lot of practice time, so we'll have to circle back after the trip."

The Sharks are traveling to face the Dallas Stars for their first road trip of the season. 

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