How good do you think Marc Edouard Vlasic is and why?

Solid defensive dman. Not quite a two way guy though IMO.

I think he's been lucky to have been able to play with Burns and the SJ Sharks during a time when they were at their best as to bring up his value. Swap him with OEL in Arizona for example and you'd see a large contrast of calibre of dmen. Vlasic's accolades have come moreso from his teammates then his ability alone. He had no business being on team Canada (Just like Bouwmeester) but due to his strong chemistry with Burns as was BO's with Pietrangelo, they were given an extra bump over guys who were clearly better players.

I'd take him on my team any day although his new contract pretty much negates the positive value he did have. 7M for a defensive dman is 2000's type thinking. The game has changed. Defensive dmen are on the way out. Two way dman have taken their place. Can't just be good defending and letting your partner do all the offense. You need to also. Vlasic, especially for the amount he'll be making next year, is not worth it.

P.S. this was totally a pitch @ Raif in V2.

Vlasic is one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL. He absolutely had business being on Team Canada and was one of their best shutdown defenseman. He didn't get chosen because of his chemistry with Burns because he doesn't even play with Brent Burns. he plays with Justin Braun, while Burns plays with Paul Martin. I don't think he warranted the contract he just got, but to say that he is essentially a product of the players around him is ridiculous.

Shhhh I'm trying to close a deal here!

Regardless though even if he wasn't playing with Burns (which i thought he was), you made my point when saying "I don't think he warranted the contract he just got" . If he is as good as your proclaiming him to be, 7M would of been a good contract for him. Alas, not one person will say that is a good contract for a over 30, defensive dman. Dmen nowadays need to produce and he doesn't do nearly enough to warrant being a top calibre dman IMO. Very solid player though. Not trying to discredit him. I do like him.

But swap him with any star dman in the league and does he bring more or less value to his team then that player?........Always less. In fact looking where the league is now and where its is heading, i'd take anyone of those players over Vlasic any day of the week.

As for his team Canada selection, since they've been a powerhouse its virtually impossible to debate against it. All I can say is had he been playing with Carolina all these years, what do you think the over/under he's even selected in the top 7 selections for the team? You know where my money would be.

He's great but he's not the best D-man in the league like some think he is.

yeah...nobody thinks that

This comment seems very familiar....

people seem to say that a lot to raif. I wonder why

well a few people on this site have said that.

He's ONE OF the best DEFENSIVE defensemen in the league, if that's what you're referring to.

Name 1 person that has said Vlasic is the best defenseman in the league

MatthewsMarnerNylander

Who.........??

I swear RAIF believes in these imaginary friends on the site, that feed him nonesense like "Doughty's the best defenceman in the league", "Islanders are a top 5 team", "San Jose works well together", and "Erik Karlsson isn't good"

seriously:

a) What's so strange about that?
b) I never said that
c) um ...
d) He's one of the best players in the NHL, he's won 2 norris trophies, and has been up for it the last 3 years ... of course i think he's good.

You said it, not us.

Vlasic is so lucky. Would any other team have offered him nearly so much 7m X 8 years. The contract ends when he's 40. Can't imagine what the Sharks management team was thinking. Would anybody else offered even 6m X 5 years. Sorta reminds me of the Clarkson deal....naw, nothing could be that bad.

Agreed. Great dman but not nearly a superstar and having a great team around him has absolutely bumped up his apparent value.

If he had gone to free agency I wouldn't have been surprised for him to get 7+ million over 7 years. He's definitely better than Shattenkirk who took a fair sized hometown discount in New York.

That shouldn't be the measure though. Every player that goes to free agency is over paid. That is the whole point of free agency. Simply going on player salary averages and key points certain players were signed for, Vlasic at 7M is silly. Its the same type of silly Phaneuf/Seabrook got with their contracts. No business being a ~7M player. The other guys at that range are all Norris calibre dmen. They are not.

The trying to be good David Booth didn't last long.....bullying in the schoolyard isn't cool..... I foresee another Booth suspension

Shattenkirk signed a four year contract that will end when he is 32 years of age. Hard to believe that in today's NHL Vlasic will hold anywhere near his $$$ value at age 40.
Can you really think of one team that would have offered near that contract as a UFA?
It a similar way, I keep on reading that Tavares will sign for 11m next season. Maybe so, but there are limited number of teams that 1. Have the cap room. 2. Tavares would prefer to sign for. So even the Tavares UFA market isn't 31 teams. And the Vlasic on the open market for a 7 contract would be ZERO interest IMO.

Yea good for you, go home Paul, your drunk like always

Tavares only makes 11 if he hits the open market. The Islanders could get him for cheaper

There you go again.....trying to start a fight......that you will always lose, physically and verbally.....