San Jose Sharks Cut Ties with Marc-Edouard Vlasic
The San Jose Sharks have made the decision to part ways with experienced defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, placing him on unconditional waivers with the purpose of terminating the last year of his contract. Vlasic, 38, has been an emblematic figure in the Bay Area for 19 seasons, playing the 1,465 games of his career in the NHL with the Sharks since his debut in 2006. In NHL history, only Hall of Famers Ray Bourque and Nicklas Lidstrom have played more games with the same team than Vlasic, considering both the regular season and the playoffs. Earlier this season, Vlasic set an NHL record for the most blocked shots in his career, ending his time in San Jose with a total of 2,184. Vlasic was a key element in the Sharks’ core during their years of success, when they reached the playoffs in 13 of 14 seasons and reached the Stanley Cup final in 2016.Originally from Montreal, Vlasic was a key player in Canada’s gold medal win at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Last season, he missed much of the action due to injuries, but participated in 27 games and scored three points. Vlasic’s contract represented a $7 million cap hit for the 2025-26 season. His departure allows San Jose to save $2.3 million, although it will generate an additional cost of $1.2 million in the ’26-27 season.“It was a difficult decision to make today, considering how much Marc has meant to the San Jose organization for 19 years,” said General Manager Mike Grier in a statement. “I was fortunate enough to be here with Marc in his first season with the Sharks and knew he would become a great defenseman. Throughout his NHL career, Vlasic was one of the premier defensive defensemen, taking on difficult defensive responsibilities on the ice against the best players in the world and doing so effectively.”
Mike Grier, General Manager
“He brought immense experience to the organization daily, and was selected to represent his country on multiple occasions at the highest level,” Grier added. “He will be remembered not only as one of the best defensemen in franchise history, but also as one of the best players. We want to thank him for his dedication and commitment to the organization, and we wish him the best.”
Mike Grier, General Manager
