Vlasic’s goal, his first of the season, tied the game 2-2 at the 15:53 mark of the second period. The goal by Vlasic, who was playing in his 1,200th NHL game, was the second of a three-goal outburst by the Sharks in the second period, as they overcame a two-goal deficit to earn a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday at United Center. Right after the league said the puck was deflected in by Vlasic’s skate, and not illegally kicked in, the longtime Sharks defenseman simply flipped the puck to a member of the team’s training staff as a keepsake. However, Vlasic would have to waive his no-movement clause for any potential trade to go through, but given his roots in Montreal plus this interesting tweet, it’s not out of the question that he would accept a trade to Quebec.Marc-Edouard Vlasic held the puck in his hand as on-ice officials and the NHL’s Situation Room tried to determine whether the goal he thought he had scored came as a result of a distinct kicking motion. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic noted that the Montreal Canadiens “were looking at Vlasic in October and November … but his rough start to the season probably negated any potential deal.” (from ‘Which idle teams could be logical trading partners for the Sharks?’, The AthleticNHL, 8/28/20). It’s very possible that the Sharks could look to move Vlasic. For someone who was previously considered an elite shutdown defenseman, the drop-off has been remarkable. Related: Where Are They Now? The Jonathan Cheechoo EditionĪdditionally, Vlasic’s xWAR that season dropped down to minus-six, the 293rd ranked defenseman in the NHL in that category. This may not have been the best idea in hindsight– Vlasic returned to playing alongside Braun for the majority of the season, and the pair’s combined CF% and xGF% numbers were a vast downgrade from Vlasic’s numbers with Karlsson, at a CF% of 46.1 and an xGF% of 48.6. In the 2018-19 campaign, Vlasic was initially paired with new arrival Erik Karlsson, but despite displaying some very strong metrics (57.5 CF%, 56.5 xGF%), the two were split up, reportedly due to chemistry issues. Marc-Edouard Vlasic ( Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) It wasn’t until the next season that Vlasic’s CF% and xGF% would both dip below 50 percent – Vlasic’s 48.33 CF% was the fourth-worst on the Sharks for skaters who had played more than 25 games, and second-worst for defensemen behind his linemate, Justin Braun. Despite this, his xGF% was still above 50, but just barely at 50.4. Vlasic’s defensive metrics started to take a turn for the worse in the 2016-17 season, when he posted his first season with a CF% under 50, at a rate of 48.2. This was not without some assistance from his long-time linemate, Justin Braun, who had a 1.1 xWAR, a CF% of 54.2, and an xGF% of 58.3. According to Evolving Hockey, he also had an expected wins above replacement number of 2.4 in 2013-14, which was fourth-highest for defensemen that year. Vegas Golden Knights’ Jon Merrill and San Jose Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic fight for the puck (AP Photo/Ben Margot)Īrguably Vlasic’s best defensive year ever was during the Sharks’ 2013-14 season, when he had the best CF% and xGF% in his career, boasting a CF% of 58.2 and an xGF% of 60. He also excelled at limiting expected goals against in those seasons, never having a xGF% of under 50 percent until his 2017-18 campaign (via NaturalStatTrick). A Near-Decade of Defensive Brillianceīefore Vlasic inked his current deal, he was considered one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL, and also considered by some the premier shutdown defenseman in the NHL, and for good reason – he had been an excellent shot suppressor, having a Corsi for percentage (CF%) above 50 percent for the first nine seasons of his career. With six more years to go, the window seems to be closing for Vlasic to prove that he’s worth his contract, and it could very well handicap the Sharks unless general manager Doug Wilson can find a way to get his contract off the books. When you take into consideration that his contract also includes a no-movement clause for the next three years, Vlasic’s deal could very well be one of the worst in the NHL right now. However, his on-ice value has drastically regressed, and he now looks like a shell of what he once was. Vlasic was rewarded for his dependability in the summer of 2017 with an eight-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $7 million. For years, Marc-Edouard Vlasic was the rock of the San Jose Sharks’ defense – he was a very dependable defensive defenseman who could also score a few goals here and there.
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