Breaking news today when the Sharks announced the contract extension of pending RFA and now poster boy for the Sharks young defensive core, Marc-Eduoard Vlasic. With exact contract terms of his four year deal not released by the Sharks and no info to be found at my usual sources, but if I had to guess (and I’m going to) I would say it is a slight improvement to Ehrhoff’s deal because of the major minutes Vlasic will asked to log this season and in the future. So I’m saying four years, 14M – at an average of 3.5M per season.

So should Mike rush out and buy his Vlasic jersey or will we see the “Matt Carle Effect” here? Is Vlasic going to crumble under the pressure of his new deal and lay a big steamer on the blueline? Will Doug Wilson be forced to package Pickles in the offseason to get a veteran D-man to take up the slack. No, no and no. Pickles isn’t in the same situation Carle was in last year and is signing the extension as a more proven NHL player with 163 NHL games under his skates who has already shouldered a major role on a playoff team…which Carle hadn’t really done when he signed his extension and still hasn’t done yet with any consistentcy.

Another great move by DW, setting up the Sharks to win a Stanley Cup today and contend for years to come. When does the season start again?? SHARKS!!!!

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