Marc-Édouard Vlasic

Did You Know?

• Vlasic was named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team and won gold against Sweden 3–0.
• He was invited to play for Team Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Championship after the Sharks' defeat by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Playing career

Vlasic began organized hockey in Montreal at age five under his father's coaching. He moved up to novice A at seven and later played for the midget-AAA Lac St. Louis Lions. From 2002 to 2003 he played for the midget-AAA West Island Lions and was drafted by the Quebec City Remparts of the QMJHL in the fourth round of the 2003 QMJHL draft after his Lac St. Louis Lions coach, Guy Boucher, convinced Patrick Roy to draft him. Vlasic played two games with the Lions during the 2003–04 season before being recalled to the Remparts on September 16, 2003, for the rest of the season. He was not originally selected for the 2004 CHL Canada/Russia Series but replaced an injured Sidney Crosby on the roster; at that time he had two goals and nine assists through 26 games. The San Jose Sharks drafted Vlasic 35th overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft using a pick exchanged for goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff. He made the Sharks' opening night roster at age 19 and debuted on October 5, 2006, against the St. Louis Blues. His first NHL goal came on November 22, 2006, against the Los Angeles Kings, making him the second youngest defenseman in franchise history to score his first NHL goal at 19 years and 237 days. He finished the 2006–07 season with three goals and 23 assists for 26 points through 81 games and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team alongside Matt Carle. On August 27, 2008, the Sharks signed Vlasic to a four-year, $12.4 million contract extension through the 2012–13 season. On July 11, 2012, he signed a five-year, $21 million extension. Early in the 2012–13 season he 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. On July 1, 2017, he signed a $56 million, eight-year contract extension with the Sharks. Vlasic played his 1,000th NHL game on December 14, 2019, becoming only the 17th player to play his first 1,000 games with one team.

Personal life

Hailing from a Croatian and French-Canadian background, Vlasic has three younger brothers: Thomas, and twins Charles and James. He studied at West Island College in Quebec. His ex-wife, Martine, was his high school sweetheart. His cousin Emma Vlasic once captained Yale’s women’s hockey team and played for the Connecticut Whale, while her brother Alex suits up for the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2015, the Quebec Remparts honored Vlasic by retiring his number 44.