Today, the Dallas Stars and Joe Pavelski announced his retirement from the NHL after an 18-season career.
Pavelski, 40, accumulated 1,068 points (476 goals, 592 assists) in 1,332 regular-season games, playing five seasons with the Dallas Stars and 13 with the San Jose Sharks. Signing with Dallas on July 1, 2019, Pavelski scored 307 points (121 goals, 186 assists) in 369 regular-season games with the Stars. He led the Stars in assists and was second in points and third in goals during his tenure. Pavelski was the Stars’ top point scorer in consecutive seasons from 2020-22, achieving a career-high 81 points in the 2021-22 season at age 37. He was the Central Division captain at the 2022 All-Star Weekend, marking his fourth NHL All-Star appearance and first with the Stars.
“Joe’s standard of excellence has left a lasting impact on our organization,” said Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill. “His leadership, practice habits, mentoring of young players, and constant drive to improve his game have been crucial to our success over the past five seasons. Joe’s career achievements are a testament to his exceptional skill, and we congratulate him on a remarkable career and look forward to his future.”
Pavelski played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four of his five seasons with Dallas, reaching the Western Conference Final three times (2020, 2023, 2024) and the Stanley Cup Final once (2020). He scored 43 points (26 goals, 17 assists) in 67 postseason games with the Stars.
During his time with the Sharks, Pavelski recorded 761 points (355 goals, 406 assists) in 963 games. He is second in franchise history for goals, third for points, and fourth for assists. He also ranks highly in power-play goals, game-winning goals, and plus/minus rating. Pavelski scored 20 or more goals in 10 of 11 seasons from 2008-2019, except for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. He achieved a career-high 41 goals in 2013-14.
San Jose reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 12 of Pavelski’s 13 seasons with the team, making four Western Conference Final appearances (2010, 2011, 2016, 2019) and one Stanley Cup Final run (2016). Pavelski is a top performer in Sharks playoff history, ranking high in goals, assists, and points, and excelling in power-play and game-winning goals. He was the Sharks’ captain from 2015-2019 and participated in three NHL All-Star Games (2016, 2017, 2019).
Pavelski ranks fifth among U.S.-born players in goals and points, and 11th in assists. He is third in power-play goals and ranks high in game-winning goals and plus-minus rating. Pavelski scored 25 or more goals in 12 of his 18 seasons, the third-most among U.S.-born players. In the playoffs, he leads U.S.-born players in goals, power-play goals, and game-winning goals, ranking third in points and seventh in assists. He played his 200th postseason game in the 2024 Western Conference Final, becoming the second U.S.-born player to reach this milestone.
Internationally, Pavelski represented the U.S. in two Olympic Games (2010, 2014), winning a silver medal in 2010. He also played in the 2009 IIHF World Championship and captained Team USA in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 196 pounds, Pavelski was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft.
