As one of the last remaining links to the Sharks’ most successful era, Marc-Édouard Vlasic has seen just about everything in teal. In his 19th season with the team, he became a steady voice on and off the ice for a young, rebuilding roster.
On the Season: “We were competitive.”
“We were competitive. But at the end of the day, you want to win games, you want to make the playoffs.”
The Sharks managed to stay in more games than many expected, but Vlasic made it clear that effort alone isn’t enough anymore. Results are what matter, and for a player who’s been through deep playoff runs, another bottom-of-the-standings finish isn’t something he’s interested in repeating.
On the Young Core: “Huge progress”
“I saw huge progress, and the guys on the back end take big steps forward. Hopefully we build on this and come into next year even more competitive, even more wins and making the playoffs.”
Vlasic seems genuinely encouraged by what he saw from the team’s younger defensemen. The message is that development is happening, and if it continues, so will the team’s climb.
On Macklin Celebrini, “He will be a superstar.”
“He will be a superstar in this league. He’ll be one of, if not the Sharks’ best player for many, many years to come, and he was our best player this year.”
When asked about standout performers, Vlasic had high praise for Celebrini. In a season filled with struggles, the veteran saw elite potential and, more importantly, a player already making a significant impact.
On the Locker Room Dynamic: “Childish energy”
“Very young. Mack and Will bring tons of childish energy … they’re fun kids, good kids, great players, fun to have around.”
According to Vlasic, the younger players are making the room more fun again. That energy, paired with work ethic, is something he clearly values. It also suggests a healthy culture during the rebuild.
On Playing Through the Years: “It goes by fast.”
“When you play a long time, enjoy it — it goes by fast. I have very few years left compared to what I did. So I play as long as I can, as long as I still enjoy it, and I still do.”
He knows there are fewer seasons ahead than behind, but the passion to play is still there, and so is the commitment to putting in the work.
On Expectations for 2025: “We’ve been at the bottom long enough.”
“Next year would be playoffs … We’ve been at the bottom long enough.”
Vlasic set the bar for next season without blinking. After multiple years of rebuilding, he wants the Sharks to start winning. And he believes they’re not far off from making it happen.
