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.”

NHL teams had until Monday at 2 p.m. (PDT) to buy out players’ contracts.

Vlasic, per PuckPedia, was set to make $3.5 million in base salary this upcoming season with a $2 million signing bonus. The move will save the Sharks $2,333,333 under the salary cap for next season, although the team already had tens of millions of dollars in available cap room.

In January, Vlasic became just the 21st defenseman in NHL history to play in at least 1,300 games. With the unceremonious departure, Vlasic leaves the organization second on the team’s all-time games played list, trailing only Patrick Marleau (1,607).

“With over 1,300 games in the NHL, (Vlasic) brought immense expertise and experience to the organization daily, and was selected to represent his country on multiple occasions at the highest level,” Grier’s statement continued, “He will go down not only as one of the best defensemen in franchise history, but one of the best players.”

“We want to thank him for his dedication and commitment to the organization, and wish him all the best.”

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