THE CANADIAN PRESS

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SAN JOSE - The San Jose Sharks have locked up an important piece of their future.

The team has signed defenceman Marc-Edouard Vlasic to a US$12.4-million, four-year contract extension that will kick in after this coming season. He'll earn US$735,000 in the final year of that entry-level deal. Vlasic played all 82 games last season and put up 14 points (2-12) while averaging 21:36 of ice time.

"Marc-Edouard is one of the top young defenceman in the game and we are excited to have him in to fold for the next several years," said Sharks GM Doug Wilson. "He has a tremendous future with this franchise and we look forward to watching his continued development."

Vlasic was selected in the second round of the 2005 draft and made his NHL debut a year later.

In 163 career games with the Sharks, the 21-year-old has five goals and 40 points.