Last Thursday, Marc-Édouard Vlasic played his 1,300th game in the NHL. He became the 21st defender to reach this plateau, but only the second Quebec defender after Raymond Bourque (1612).
“It’s a lot of years of effort and work. My pride is being passionate about what I do, having fun competing and having the respect of other players and managers across the league,” he told me during our interview. .
Among defensemen still playing in the league, only Ryan Suter (1,491) and Brent Burns (1,461) have played more games than Vlasic. “To get there, you have to be good and you have to be lucky to avoid injuries. In addition, you add the preparatory matches and the series. It’s a lot more, but I love what I do and I love going to the arena. »
Now 37 years old, Vlasic is in his 19th season in the NHL. The Sharks defenseman was 19 years old in 2006 when he made his Bettman Tour debut. Vlasic has never been a flamboyant defender, but he has always been known to be reliable defensively.
“When I started, I wasn’t offensive enough, I wasn’t big enough and I wasn’t fast enough. I told myself that my style was to defend. I had to stop the best players on the other side because it gives my team a chance to win. When I entered the NHL, there wasn’t that type of defenseman. That was my style in junior and I told myself that that was how I was to make my place,” he recalled.
This great efficiency in neutralizing the best in the world allowed him to represent Canada at the Olympic Games (2014) and the World Cup (2016). On each occasion, Vlasic had a leading role and each time he helped Canada win top honors.
-“It always takes a player to stop the best opposing players. It’s a source of pride that I’ve had since I arrived in the league to play this role. I want to be that player who has the trust of his coach. I take a lot of pride from it and I love this challenge. »
To be able to defend night after night, you have to be in impeccable physical condition, as is the case for Vlasic. “The game has evolved since I arrived in 2006. When I started, I was playing against Brendan Shanahan, Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla, Keith Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Jaromir Jagr. They were big players. You had to be smart with your stick and your skates to take the puck away from them. »
How much longer can he play? “When my contract ends, I will be 39 years old. I would like to have the chance to win the Stanley Cup. A Sharks employee pointed out to me that I should go to my number,” he told me with a laugh since he wears number 44.
“It’s difficult to make the NHL, but it’s even more difficult to stay there for so long given the evolution of the sport. The young people who come in are fast. You have to follow. I would like to continue as long as possible. »
Related News :