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San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has signed defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic to a four-year contract extension. Combined with the one year left on his original contract, Vlasic is now locked up for five seasons. The deal is reported to be for an average around $3 million per year.
“Marc-Edouard is one of the top young defenseman in the game and we are excited to have him in the fold for the next several years,” said Wilson. “He has a tremendous future with this franchise and we look forward to watching his continued development.”
Vlasic played in all 82 games for the Sharks in 2007-08, notching 14 points (2-12=14) and 24 penalty minutes. The second year defenseman ranked third on the team in blocked shots (85) and average ice time (21:36).
Wilson feels that Vlasic’s offensive ability is just beginning to round into form.
“He can play in all situations and we think he’ll only get better with the players we’ve brought in this summer,” said Wilson. “His defense is as good and any young player in the game and he will evolve a lot more offensively as he goes forward.”
In 2006-07, Vlasic posted 26 points (3-23=26) in 81 games during his rookie campaign, in which he was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. His 23 assists were tied for seventh among all NHL rookies and also placed him sixth on the Sharks all-time single season list for rookies. His +14 plus/minus rating finished third on the team (first among all blueliners), fourth among all NHL rookies and second all-time for a Sharks rookie. Vlasic averaged 22:11 in ice time per game, over 1½ minutes more than any other NHL rookie and second overall on the Sharks.
Vlasic, who became the youngest Sharks defenseman to make the team out of training camp since Brad Stuart in 1999-00, was voted by Bay Area media as the PlayStation “Sharks Rookie of the Year”. His 132 blocked shots were second among all NHL rookies and second on the team.
The six-foot-one, 195-pound native of Montreal, Quebec was originally selected by San Jose in the second round (35th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Excellent signing considering the going rate for top notch shutdown Defensemen. Vlasic ia a shade below the Regehr's, Volchenkov's and Phillips, but he is a bargain who will keep getting better.
Excellent signing considering the going rate for top notch shutdown Defensemen. Vlasic ia a shade below the Regehr's, Volchenkov's and Phillips, but he is a bargain who will keep getting better.
Kronwall is much more physical. Vlasic plays more of a Lidstrom style "Bend don't break" positioning, stickwork and hockey sense anticipation style, but without Lidstrom's offensive acumen and not quite as good as Lidstrom Defensively. In that sense, yes, Kronwall would be a good comparison in effectiveness defensively(Just diff styles).
In Juniors, Vlasic was quite the two way player, but he has yet to translate the offensive side to the NHL. Defensively, he is spectacular and gave Ovechkin and Crosby and Malkin fits when they played SJ.
Kronwall is much more physical. Vlasic plays more of a Lidstrom style "Bend don't break" positioning, stickwork and hockey sense anticipation style, but without Lidstrom's offensive acumen and not quite as good as Lidstrom Defensively. In that sense, yes, Kronwall would be a good comparison in effectiveness defensively(Just diff styles).
In Juniors, Vlasic was quite the two way player, but he has yet to translate the offensive side to the NHL. Defensively, he is spectacular and gave Ovechkin and Crosby and Malkin fits when they played SJ.
WOW , I'm speechless with your Lidstrom comparisome and your reference to him being spectacular.
A bit over the top and un realistic but what ever works for you i guess.
WOW , I'm speechless with your Lidstrom comparison...
I think it was more of a comparison in regards to style than talent. Many defencemen play a similar game to Lidstrom, they just don't do it as effectively.
Referring to him as "spectacular" defensively does seem a stretch to me, but that is quite possibly because I've barely seen him play. At any rate, it seems like a bargain price.
I think it was more of a comparison in regards to style than talent. Many defencemen play a similar game to Lidstrom, they just don't do it as effectively.
Referring to him as "spectacular" defensively does seem a stretch to me, but that is quite possibly because I've barely seen him play. At any rate, it seems like a bargain price.
Well, when an 18 year old gets a call up and immediately becomes the teams best shutdown Defenseman, shutting down the likes of Malkin, Crosby and Ovechkin, as well as others.
San Jose had the best PK in the league last season and the 3rd best GAA. Vlasic was a key element to that success.
When I saw that Coach Wilson was matching up Campbell/Murray against Iginla in the playoffs every shift instead of Vlasic/Ehrhoff, I nearly cried. In the first 5 games, Iginla was absolutely killing the sharks(8 points in 5 games). After Wilson finally got his head out of his arse and matched Vlasic against Iginla in the final 2 games, Iginla was held to a single goal.
The sad thing is, Wilson again tried matching Campbell/Murray against Morrow/Ribiero for the first few games before giving up on it(The scored a combined 6 points in 2 games) and sending Vlasic/Ehrhoff out again top shut down Morrow/Ribiero in game 3 forward
Well, when an 18 year old gets a call up and immediately becomes the teams best shutdown Defenseman, shutting down the likes of Malkin, Crosby and Ovechkin, as well as others.
San Jose had the best PK in the league last season and the 3rd best GAA. Vlasic was a key element to that success.
When I saw that Coach Wilson was matching up Campbell/Murray against Iginla in the playoffs every shift instead of Vlasic/Ehrhoff, I nearly cried. In the first 5 games, Iginla was absolutely killing the sharks(8 points in 5 games). After Wilson finally got his head out of his arse and matched Vlasic against Iginla in the final 2 games, Iginla was held to a single goal.
The sad thing is, Wilson again tried matching Campbell/Murray against Morrow/Ribiero for the first few games before giving up on it(The scored a combined 6 points in 2 games) and sending Vlasic/Ehrhoff out again top shut down Morrow/Ribiero in game 3 forward
Sounds pretty good to me then, but I'm not the one in the need of much convincing.
Sounds pretty good to me then, but I'm not the one in the need of much convincing.
I know:P. I wouldn't bother convincing FF2. He thinks Lidstrom is not a top 10 all time Dman, so evidently he values different sorts of defensive play. Ill assume he likes Broad Street Bully guys who go for big hits and miss half the time, while the other guy slides by calmly to score:P
I know:P. I wouldn't bother convincing FF2. He thinks Lidstrom is not a top 10 all time Dman, so evidently he values different sorts of defensive play. Ill assume he likes Broad Street Bully guys who go for big hits and miss half the time, while the other guy slides by calmly to score:P
Your close joe, I like good solid stay at home dmen who look after their own end of the rink first and foremost.!!
Your close joe, I like good solid stay at home dmen who look after their own end of the rink first and foremost.!!
Hence the reason their called defense men.
And Lidstrom DOES look after his own end first. Not sure if you have ever watched him play, but he is a mistake free stay at home Dman who achieved through cutting off angles, Stickwork, and anticipation better Results than Scott Stevens did with his bell ringing hits.
He is the best stay at home Defenseman in the league and the guy who puts up 60-70 points regularly because he is just so damn good at transition game.
That's why he continues to win Norris trophies and why NHL.com voted him 9th Smartest player ever to play.
Sharks sign Vlasic to 4 year extension, 3 mill per year
Sharks sign Vlasic to 4 year extension, 3 mill per year
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