Joe Pavelski Calls it a Career
Photo credit: kevenleanna.blogspot.com
Drafted in the 7th round of the 2003 NHL draft by the San Jose Sharks, Joe Pavelski proved to be a steal who would go on to have 18 productive seasons in the NHL and go down as one of the best American hockey players of all time. In his latest interview with “NHL Morning Skate,” he stated, “I think I'm ready to step away from the game on the playing side of things and go from there.”.
In 2006, Pavelski made his NHL debut, and it was quickly realized that he wasn't going anywhere. In his first season, Pavelski appeared in 46 games, where he had 14 goals and 28 points. Pavelski would become a core piece with the Sharks, alongside Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. With Pavelski in San Jose, the Sharks made the playoffs 12 of 13 seasons, making the conference finals three times and making it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, where they would lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. In 2015, Pavelski would become the captain of the Sharks. Pavelski is an all-time Shark legend, as he played 1,104 games with San Jose, finishing second in Sharks history in goals with 355; 41 of those came in the 2013–14 season, where he had a career-high in goals, and third in all-time points with the franchise with 761. In 2019, Pavelski would start a new chapter in his career by going to the Lone Star State and playing the next 5 years with the Dallas Stars.
In Dallas, he would pick up where he left off and continue to dominate play. Two years into his time with Dallas, he would help the team make the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite losing in six games to the Lightning, Pavelski led the team in goals and points in the final. In the 2021–2022 season, Pavelski would have his highest point total at age 37, as he got better with time. Scoring 27 goals, 54 assists, and 81 points in 82 games. Pavelski would notch a career milestone by scoring his 1000th point in the NHL with the Stars.
As Pavelski pushed to get his first Stanley Cup, this latest season was his best shot on a loaded Stars team with a combination of veteran and young talent on the roster. The Stars finished first in the central division and at the top of the Western Conference. Pavelski yet again had an outstanding season at the age of 39, scoring 27 goals and 67 points in all 82 regular-season games. Pavelski has been a horse in the playoffs, finishing 1st in goals among active players in the playoffs and 4th in points before retirement. However, this postseason, it was noticeable, that Pavelski had slowed down a bit. The Stars would make it to the Western Conference finals but fell short to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Speculation arose right after the loss as to whether it was Pavelski's last game, and the player interviews showed how much Pavelski meant on and off the ice.
On the international stage, Pavelski was one of the faces of USA Hockey. He represented the United States twice at the Olympics, earning a silver medal in 2010 and being a member of the 2014 Olympic team. At the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Pavelski was given the C on his jersey. Pavelski has the most playoff goals scored by an American player with 74 and ranks 5th in all-time points and goals by an American.
From a 7th-round draft pick to an NHL great. Pavelski has had one heck of a career and has a strong case for his next stop to be the Hockey Hall of Fame.