SAN JOSE — Longtime NHL defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic will be placed on unconditional waivers by the San Jose Sharks for the purpose of a contract buyout, the team announced Thursday.

Vlasic, 38, had one year left on an eight-year, $56 million contract that carried an average annual value of $7 million. Vlasic was drafted by the Sharks in 2005 and has played 1,323 games with the organization over 19 seasons.

“This was a difficult decision to make today, with how much Marc has meant to the San Jose organization for 19 years,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. “I was fortunate enough to be here with Marc for his first season with the Sharks, and knew he would become a great defenseman.

“Over the course of his career in the NHL, Vlasic was one of the premier shutdown defensemen, earning tough defensive assignments on the ice against the best players in the world and doing it with effectiveness.”

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