Joe Pavelski has announced his retirement, confirming it to Sirius XM’s Scott Laughlin on Tuesday.
After the Stars were knocked out of the playoffs in June, he mentioned that 2023-24 would be his last season. The league has now confirmed this news. Pavelski, who just turned 40, spent almost ten years as a top two-way forward and net-front tipper. When he left the Sharks for the Stars in 2019, many thought he would decline, but instead, he played a key role as they reached three Western Conference Finals in five years.
Last year showed some signs of him slowing down. He scored 67 points in 82 games, which was still good but his lowest since joining Dallas. By playoff time, he was moved to the second line with Matt Duchene and Mason Marchment and managed only one goal and three assists in 19 games . Despite this dip, he was still one of the better free agents available this summer before deciding to retire.
Pavelski’s Unexpected Rise
Pavelski’s journey to stardom is quite a tale. Drafted by San Jose in the seventh round of the famous 2003 draft after excelling at the University of Wisconsin with over a point per game and winning a national championship, he signed his first contract in 2006.
Starting off strong in AHL Worcester with 26 points in just 16 games got him quickly promoted to the NHL where he never looked back. He ended that season with 14 goals and 28 points over 46 games for San Jose and soon became an essential part of their middle-six forwards.
Entering his final contract year with San Jose, Pavelski signed a five-year extension worth $30M. He responded spectacularly by scoring a career-high of 41 goals and totaling up to 79 points that season while earning top spots in Hart and Selke Trophy voting.
Fans might think it’s sad to see such an incredible player leave.
He continued performing well for two more seasons with over 70 points each year while maintaining an iron-man streak without missing games due to injury or illness. His standout moment came during San Jose’s run to their first-ever Stanley Cup Final where Pavelski led all players with fourteen playoff goals including four game-winners!
Final Years With Dallas
When Pavelski joined Dallas on a three-year deal worth $21M after leaving San Jose due to salary cap issues, it initially seemed like an unwise move as his performance dipped significantly during his first regular season there — recording only thirty-one points across sixty-seven matches.
However post-COVID lockdowns saw him bounce back dramatically during bubble playoffs leading Dallas all way till finals again although falling short against Tampa Bay Lightning similar fashion like how Penguins defeated Sharks earlier back then too!
The following seasons saw him playing alongside young talents Jason Robertson & Roope Hintz forming deadly trio helping them reach playoffs again despite missing out initially due shortened pandemic affected schedule yet managing personal best eighty-one-point tally next full term proving critics wrong once more before finally passing torch onto newer generation stars ensuring smooth transition phase ahead future campaigns alike…
Now retired after eighteen long illustrious years spanning thirteen hundred thirty-two regular-season appearances plus another two hundred one postseason clashes compiling total thousand sixty-eight combined score sheet entries inclusive four seventy-six strikes coupled five ninety-two helpers alongside numerous accolades achieved throughout remarkable journey indeed deserving Hall Fame recognition surely someday soon perhaps?
What do you think about Joe Pavelski’s career?
