The San Jose Sharks have placed veteran defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic on unconditional waivers, aiming to buy out the final year of his contract, which would save the team $2.3 million against the salary cap while incurring an additional $1.2 million in the following season. This marks the end of a nearly two-decade career with the Sharks for the 38-year-old, who has played all 1,465 NHL games with the franchise since his debut in 2006.

General Manager Mike Grier expressed the emotional difficulty behind this decision, acknowledging Vlasic's significant contributions during the Sharks' playoff runs and his role in their 2016 Stanley Cup Final appearance. Recognized as one of the NHL's top shutdown defensemen, Vlasic represented Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and has been a vital part of the team's identity and defensive strategy over the years.