(Frisco) Joe Pavelski declared that he played his last game, after taking part in 1,533 games over 18 seasons in the NHL without ever managing to lift the Stanley Cup.
Pavelski, who just completed his fifth season with the Dallas Stars and will celebrate his 40th birthday next month, revealed his decision Tuesday. It comes two days after the Stars were eliminated in six games in the final series in the Western Conference, for a second consecutive year.
In his first season with the Stars in 2020, he took part in the Stanley Cup final series. He also reached the final series in 2016, with the San Jose Sharks.
“He’s the definition of a professional. He’s always on his case, as he has been throughout his career, Stars general manager Jim Nill said just before the start of the playoffs.
“We’re lucky he’s here and doing all of this for our dealership. He always behaves the same way, whether on the ice or off. He is a good individual, who leads a good family life, and he has transmitted these great values to all his teammates. »
The Wisconsin hockey player, who is the record holder for the most playoff goals by an American (74) and who was until now the record holder among active players, was in the final year of his contract with the Stars.
Pavelski, who was selected in the seventh round, 205th overall, by the Sharks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, began his NHL career in 2006-07. He has 476 goals and 592 assists in 1,332 regular season games. Pavelski finished the campaign ranked fifth among active players in goals and seventh in points (1,068).
Pavelski also last week became the 25th player in history to appear in 200 playoff games; he concluded his career at 201. And he is the only one in this group without a Stanley Cup. He was held to just one goal in 19 playoff games this spring.
