Sharks’ Vlasic sets NHL shot blocking record in win over Sabres

The NHL record books are on high alert in the final stretches of the 2024-25 season. 

While Alexander Ovechkin’s hunt for Wayne Gretzky’s goal record remains the focus, San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Édouard Vlasic shifted the records on Tuesday night, becoming the all-time leader in shots blocked in the NHL. 

The 37-year-old blueliner made his 2,165th block on a Zach Benson attempt in the first period of the Sharks’ 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, passing Mark Giordano for the record. 

He made an additional block, bringing him to two on the night and his record to 2,166. 

"I'll step in front of any puck I need to to make sure it doesn't get to the goalie."- @Vlasic44 👏 pic.twitter.com/RjBpSjZBbx

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 5, 2025

Through 1,148 NHL regular season games with the Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken and Toronto Maple Leafs, Giordano posted 2,164 blocked shots in a Norris Trophy-winning career, which started in 2006, the year after the NHL began tracking blocked shots in 2005-06. 

Since entering the NHL in 2006-07, Vlasic has spent his entire NHL career with the Sharks,  helping them to the  2019 Stanley Cup Final where they fell to the St. Louis Blues, while also playing a key role in their 2011 Western Conference Final run, ending against the Vancouver Canucks. 

“That’s a lot of blocked shots,” the Montreal native said. “It’s pretty cool. I take pride in playing good defensively, and blocking shots is one of those things. 

“When it’s your turn to block, you block it. I did it in junior, so I assumed it was the same thing in the NHL…I’ll step in front of any puck I need to to make sure it doesn’t get to the goalie.”

Through 1,308 regular season games, Vlasic has 83 goals, 295 assists and 378 points. This season, he’s been limited to just 12 games, posting two assists on a San Jose team sitting eighth in the Pacific Division on 43 points through 63 games.

With little hope of playoffs, the rebuilding Sharks next face the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.