The Sharks decided to take the proactive route with young defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, signing the 21-year-old to a four-year contract extension.

Vlasic would have been eligible for restricted free-agent status next summer after earning $735,000 in 2008-09, the third and final year of his standard entry-level rookie contract. Now, however, he'll earn $12.4-million over the life of the extension, and the Sharks don't have to worry about negotiating a new deal for quite some time.

"We think he's one of the best young defensemen in the game and he plays in all situations," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson told the San Jose Mercury News. "And we think he'll only get better playing with some of the players we've added this summer."

The Sharks will have a decidedly new look on the blue line with veterans Dan Boyle, Rob Blake and Brad Lukowich coming aboard to join regulars Kyle McLaren, Christian Ehrhoff, Douglas Murray and Vlasic.

Vlasic built on a solid rookie season in which he made the successful jump from junior hockey to the NHL in one summer by scoring two goals and 14 points in 72 games last year. His 85 blocked shots and 21:26 average ice time both ranked third on the team.

"I was looking forward to something long term," said Vlasic, the player the Sharks chose with the pick they got from Calgary in a deal that sent Miikka Kiprusoff to the Flames in 2004. "I like the place a lot and I wanted to stay."

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