Marc-Edouard Vlasic News

Where Marc-Edouard Vlasic , our last season review subject , rebounded from a so-so 2010-11 season to have arguably the best year of his career in 2011-12, Ryane Clowe followed up what was unquestionably the finest campaign of his NHL tenure last season with perhaps the worst of his career this year.

"Crankshaft" is an apt nickname for Douglas Murray given his surly, physical play and how his work drives the San Jose Sharks defensive engine Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images He was an intimidating hitter coming off his two best offensive seasons.

After something of a down season by his standards, limited largely by having to carry Niclas Wallin around the ice for a huge chunk of the year, Marc-Edouard Vlasic bounced back terrifically in 2011-12, re-establishing himself as one of the best young shutdown defensemen in the NHL and a legitimate first-pairing blueliner on a playoff team.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic plays the kind of game overlooked by a league interested in highlights, but not by coaches wanting to win Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images Marc-Edouard Vlasic has the longest name on the San Jose Sharks , but fortunately his nickname "Pickles" is a lot easier to type... Pickles works because of his last name, but it does not ... (more)

Trading for Brent Burns gave the San Jose Sharks two elite players on its blue line Christian Petersen/Getty Images A monumental trade last summer was designed to put the two-time conference finalist San Jose Sharks over the top.

The San Jose Sharks took a major step back after changing two players from its core last summer Rich Lam/Getty Images The Sharks seem to be headed in the wrong direction.

Brad Stuart 's departure from the San Jose Sharks in 2005 was unexpected and unceremonious.

Todd McLellan is neither the reason nor blameless in the failures of the 2011-12 San Jose Sharks Ezra Shaw/Getty Images With general manager Doug Wilson likely to remain in his post into next season, it is his opinion that matters most moving forward.

Max Pacioretty of the U.S. duels with Canada's Marc Vlasic in their preliminary round match during the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship game in Helsinki May 5, 2012.