Joe Pavelski Announces Retirement from the NHL
After an illustrious 18-season career, forward Joe Pavelski officially announced his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday, just five days after his 40th birthday. Pavelski retires with an impressive tally of 1,068 points (476 goals, 592 assists) in 1,332 regular season games, split between the San Jose Sharks (2006-2019) and the Dallas Stars (2019-2024).
Career Highlights
Regular Season: 1,068 points (476 goals, 592 assists) in 1,332 games
Playoffs: 143 points (74 goals, 69 assists) in 201 games
– Notable for being the U.S.-born player with the most playoff goals in NHL history (74)
Stanley Cup Finals Appearances:** With the Sharks in 2016 and the Stars in 2020
Leadership and All-Star Appearances
– Served as captain of the San Jose Sharks from 2015-2019
– Four-time NHL All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022)
Pavelski confirmed his retirement during an interview on “NHL Morning Skate” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He had previously hinted at his retirement plans during an exit interview with the Stars after the 2023-24 season, stating, “the plan is to not play next year.” On Tuesday, he reiterated his decision, saying, “I’m sticking to that plan. There is no plan to play. I didn’t want to use the ‘R’ word right away, just for the fact that there isn’t anything set in stone. I wanted a little extra time to think about it, but I was pretty comfortable with that plan.”
Pavelski leaves behind a legacy of leadership, consistency, and clutch performances, particularly in the playoffs, where he cemented his status as one of the most prolific American-born goal scorers in NHL history.
