Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic to make season debut Thursday vs. Lightning

San Jose Sharks’ defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic told reporters Thursday that he will make his 2024-25 regular-season debut on Thursday when the Sharks face the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Vlasic missed the beginning of training camp with an upper-body injury and wasn’t able to practice with the club through the first chunk of the season.

“It sucks. I want to be out there,” Vlasic told reporters in October. “I was excited, (I’m) still excited about this group, and it’s unfortunate that I missed all that time.”

Injuries slowed Vlasic down in 2023-24, playing just 57 games and recording six goals and six assists for 12 points and 26 penalty minutes with a minus-27 rating.

Vlasic, 37, has played in 1,296 regular-season games, scoring 83 goals and 293 assists for 376 points. When he steps on the ice Thursday night, it will officially mark his 19th NHL season. Vlasic has the Sharks’ franchise record for most games played by a defenseman.

Vlasic has represented Canada on several occasions. He was part of the 2014 Olympic group that won gold in Sochi, and was also part of the 2016 World Cup team.

Taken in the second round (35th overall) by the Sharks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Vlasic dominated the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts, scoring 16 goals and adding 57 assists for 73 points in 66 games in 2005-06. He followed that with five goals and 24 assists for 29 games in 23 playoff games, helping the Ramperts make the QMJHL finals.

Vlasic is one of eight players from the 2005 NHL Entry Draft who is still active. The other seven are Sidney Crosby, Anze Kopitar, T.J. Oshie, Kris Letang, Jack Johnson, Jonathan Quick and Ryan Reaves.

The Sharks are 11-23-6 with 28 points, last in the Pacific Division and second-last in the entire NHL.