In his first ten seasons in the NHL, Marc-Édouard Vlasic established himself as one of the best defensemen in the league. His offensive production may not rival that of the Norris Trophy contenders, but his defensive prowess has been truly elite. A decade ago, the phrase “defensive defenseman” was used to describe physically intimidating but plodding blue liners. Guys who spent a lot of time in their own zone because they weren’t particularly adept at taking the puck from opposing forwards and turning the play up ice. Vlasic has redefined this role. He spends time in the the defensive zone is due to the fact that he starts over 54% of his non-neutral zone shifts there (per hockey-reference).
2016-17 Season in Review: Marc-Édouard Vlasic
