Former Sharks star Joe Pavelski says he’s done after 1,533 games and 18 NHL seasons
June 4, 2024
By STEPHEN HAWKINS | AP Sports Writer
FRISCO, Texas — Former San Jose Sharks star Joe Pavelski says he has played his last game after 1,533 games over 18 NHL seasons without ever getting to raise the Stanley Cup.
Pavelski, who just wrapped up his fifth season with the Dallas Stars and turns 40 next month, revealed his decision Tuesday. It came two days after the Stars lost in Game 6 of the Western Conference final for the second year in a row. He went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 at the end of his first season with Dallas, and also got that far with San Jose in 2016.
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Thornton (19), San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8), and San Jose Sharks’ Brent Burns (88) celebrate with San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12), center, 499 goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period of their NHL game at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
Dallas Stars’ Joe Pavelski warms up before playing against his former team the San Jose Sharks, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) waits for a face-off against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Dallas Stars’ Joe Pavelski warms up before the Skills Competition, part of the NHL All-Star weekend, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski (16) is seen during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski celebrates after scoring against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 10: Former San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski answers questions from the news media at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Pavelski spent 13 seasons with the Sharks before he signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2019. The Sharks will take on the Stars Saturday at SAP Center. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 10: Former San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski autographs Shark’s programs before a news conference at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Pavelski spent 13 seasons with the Sharks before he signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2019. The Sharks will take on the Stars Saturday at SAP Center. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 10: Former San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski answers questions from the news media at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Pavelski spent 13 seasons with the Sharks before he signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2019. The Sharks will take on the Stars Saturday at SAP Center. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA – May 11: San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) goes for the puck against St. Louis Blues’ Alexander Steen (20) in the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. The Sharks beat the Blues 6-3. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Kevin Labanc (62) skates with the puck as teammate Joe Pavelski (8) looks on in the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals against the St. Louis Blues at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. The Sharks beat the Blues 6-3. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA – May 11: San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) celebrates a goal against the St. Louis Blues in the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA – May 8: San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) warms up before Game 7 of his teams NHL second-round playoff series at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Logan Couture (39), Joe Pavelski (8), Erik Karlsson (65) and Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) celebrate Pavelski’s goal in the third period against the Vancouver Canucks at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. San Jose Sharks beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8), right, hugs Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan Miller (30), left, after Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The Sharks would win the game 2-1 to eliminate the Ducks and advance to the next round of the playoffs. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) has a few words with referee Kevin Pollock (33) after call during game against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period of their NHL game at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, October 4, 2017. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) slams Nashville Predators’ Ryan Johansen (92) to the ice while fighting in the third period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) fights with Nashville Predators’ Ryan Johansen (92) in the third period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) fights with Nashville Predators’ Ryan Johansen (92) in the third period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) and San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) celebrate 1-0 lead against Edmonton Oilers in the first period of Game 4 of the NHL Western Conference quarterfinals at SAP Center at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates his goal with Brent Burns #88 to take a 1-0 lead over the Los Angeles Kings during the first period in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 16, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Joseph Esparza, 9, and Leylah Esparza, 8, are photographed with San Jose Sharkie and San Jose Sharks player Joe Pavelski during the holiday festivities at the San Jose Sharks foundation 17th annual Holiday assist program with the San Jose Unified Healthy Start Family Resource Center at Solar4America Ice in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, December 6, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Brent Burns (88) and Joe Pavelski (8) celebrate Pavelski’s goal against the St. Louis Blues to tie the game 3-3 in the second period of Game 5 of the NHL Western Conference finals at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday, May 23, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
USA forward Joe Pavelski reacts with teammates after scoring a goal against Russia in the third period of a men’s ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )
USA forward Phil Kessel, right, celebrates his second goal with teammate Joe Pavelski during the 2014 Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey game against Slovenia at Shayba Arena Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
San Jose Sharks Joe Pavelski (8) fights for the puck against Los Angeles Kings Mike Richards (10) in the third period at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 14, 2013. (Josie Lepe/Staff)
San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) celebrates with center Patrick Marleau, rear, after Marleau’s goal on Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Thursday, April 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
San Jose Sharks Joe Pavelski (8) gets into a fight with St. Louis Blues Kris Russell (4) in the second period of game two of the 1st round of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs in St. Louis, MO., on Saturday, April 14, 2012. (Josie Lepe/Staff)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski, left, and Vancouver Canucks’ Keith Ballard fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski, left, throws his gloves off as he fights with Vancouver Canucks’ Keith Ballard during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
San Jose Sharks Joe Pavelski (8) scores a goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Sunday, May 8, 2011. (Nhat V. Meyer/Mercury News)
San Jose Sharks Joe Pavelski (8) takes a shot against the Anaheim Ducks in the third period at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on November 9, 2010. (Nhat V. Meyer/ Mercury News)
San Jose Sharks Joe Pavelski (8) against Detroit Red Wings Tomas Holmstrom(96) in the second period of Game 3 at Joe Louis Arena for the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Detroit, MI on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. (Josie Lepe/Mercury News)
San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19), defenseman Dan Boyle (22), center Patrick Marleau (12), left wing Dany Heatley (15) and center Joe Pavelski (8) show their Vancouver Olympic medals during a news conference in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Thornton, Boyle, Marleau and Heatley won gold playing for Canada. Pavelski won silver playing the U.S. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski falls down on top of teammate goalie Evgeni Nabokov, of Kazakhstan, during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference semifinals against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Tuesday, April 29, 2008. The Stars won 2-1 in overtime. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
“He’s the ultimate pro. He just does everything right, he’s done that his whole career,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said just before the playoffs started. “We’re fortunate to be able for him to come here and what he’s done for our franchise. And, he does it on the ice, he does it off the ice. He’s a good person, his family life is handled the right way, and he’s passed it on to a lot of our players.”
Sharks sign NCAA points leader Smith, their top 2023 first-round pick
The Wisconsin native, whose 74 playoff goals are the most for a U.S.-born player and were the most among active players, was at the end of his contract with the Stars.
Selected 205th overall in the seventh round by the Sharks in the 2003 draft, Pavelski made his NHL debut during the 2006-07 season and went on to score 476 goals with 592 assists in 1,332 regular-season games. This season ended with him being fifth among active players for goals and seventh with 1,068 points.
Pavelski last week became the 25th player to appear in 200 postseason games; he finished with 201. He is the only one in that group without a Cup title. He had only one goal in 19 games this postseason.
