The San Jose Sharks have a lot of questions that need answering this summer. Will they try and move up in the draft? What’s the plan for their players on expiring contracts? Will they look to land a big fish in free agency? There are plenty of unknowns—but one question that shouldn’t even come up is whether the Sharks should buy out Marc-Édouard Vlasic.
In fact, it shouldn’t even be on GM Mike Grier’s radar. Vlasic only has one year left on his deal. While the $7 million AAV is high, the team isn’t in a position where they desperately need the cap space.
Now, that could change next season depending on how the roster shapes up. But by letting Vlasic finish out the final year of his contract, it gives him the chance to ride off into the sunset on his own terms.
If the Sharks were to buy him out, it would span two years, with a total cost of $2.3 million and a cap savings of $1.6 million. So the real question becomes: is it worth forcing him out just to save a bit of cap space now?
Grier likely sees this as a chance to keep a 38-year-old veteran presence in the locker room. Vlasic has spent his entire 19-year career with the Sharks, and it feels right to let him finish it that way. He can serve as a seventh defenseman, play around 25–30 games, and mentor some of the younger guys coming up.
It would be ideal for the Sharks to avoid the buyout and simply let Vlasic play out his career with the organization. Not only would it show loyalty, but it’s also just the best move for the team—and for the future.
