Vlasic on recent recognition: 'It’s nice to get rewarded for the good things'
Marc-Edouard Vlasic has forced himself into consideration for a spot on Canada's Olympic team with his hot start to the season, but if you ask the Sharks leading defenseman, it's business as usual.
“It’s nice that you finally get recognized. I’ve been playing, personally, I think, great hockey for eight years,” Vlasic told CSNBayArea.com. “It’s nice to get rewarded for the good things you do. Better late than never. I play the same way. Every year I try to get better, and it’s nice to finally get recognized. Now you have no choice but to continue it.”
Vlasic has nine points in 12 games and is tied with defensive partner Justin Braun for the team-lead in plus/minus on a strong San Jose team. Sharks associate coach Larry Robinson called Vlasic "as good as anybody" when it comes to shutdown defensemen in the league.
Vlasic, 26, has 149 points in 531 career NHL games - all with the Sharks. He recorded a career-high 36 points in the 2008-09 season.
San Jose leads the league with a 10-1-1 record and plus-28 goal differential.