Quiet Vlasic content with underrated reputation

With Mark-Edouard Vlasic, it's always the same: Consistency, smart decisions and tough minutes - game in and game out.

The San Jose Sharks defenseman is one of the best the league has to offer, but hardly garners any time in the spotlight. It could be the market he plays in, or it could be his modest style of play. But whatever it is that pushes the deserved attention away from him, he doesn't care.

"I'm here to play my game, help the team win," Vlasic told The Canadian Press. "If I get credit or I don't I'm not worried about that. I get it from the players, the coaches, the GMs throughout the league. That's the No. 1 thing. In order to make teams (like Canada) the GMs have to like the way you play and that's where I get my credit."

Vlasic won gold with Team Canada in Sochi, and was one of four defensemen named to the Canadian preliminary World Cup roster.

On top of Hockey Canada's brain trust, his teammates take notice of his play, too. Especially his playing partner, Justin Braun.

When people wake up on the East Coast and they watch highlights he might not be on there for a good stick, a blocked shot, or shutting guys down all night," Braun said.

"He'd probably be known as one of the best shutdown D-men in the league (if he played in a major market) more than he already is."

Vlasic is facing the unenviable task of shutting down the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final, and though he was minus-2 in Game 1, the hockey world should be able to catch a glimpse of his talents on the game's biggest stage as the series wears on.