This All-Time Great NHL Athlete Calls It A Career
When you think of some of the best players to have played hockey, you might be thinking of Wayne Gretsky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, or Connor McDavid. While he is not on the level of some of those players, this player has put up consistent numbers over his 18-year NHL career.
While his name was never featured on the Stanley Cup, his name will one day be inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame. So, if this is truly the end of his career, what a run it has been for Joe Pavelski. The center is expected to retire at 39, according to the New York Times.
Joe Pavelski Retires After An Incredible Career
After playing hockey for the University of Wisconsin, Joe Pavelski was drafted 205th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Nicknamed Captain America, he debuted in San Jose in 2006, scoring a goal in his first game and finishing with 28 points in 46 games, including 14 goals. He played his first full season in 2007, where he had 49 points in the regular season and a team-high five goals in the postseason.
In his next four NHL seasons, he produced 50+ points each season, leading the Sharks to two consecutive conference finals appearances. After a stint in the KHL during the 2012-13 NHL lockout, Pavelski scored a career-high 41 goals in 2013-14 and posted three consecutive 70+ point seasons.
Joe Pavelski Was So Close To Winning The Stanley Cup
In 2015-16, he led the San Jose Sharks to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history. Alongside scoring 14 goals, he added 23 points in 24 games as the Sharks fell in six games to Pittsburgh. Pavelski was named to his first-ever NHL All-Star Game. After four more years in San Jose, including leading the team as its captain, Pavelski left the Sharks and signed with the Dallas Stars.
In his first season with Dallas, he helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, again falling short in six games. His final years in the league saw him produce 60+ points each season and be named to his fourth All-Star game. He finishes his NHL career with 1,068 points, including 476 goals and 73 postseason goals, the most by an American-born player ever.
Congratulations on a great career, Joe. Hopefully, someday, we will see him inducted into the Pro Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada. Where do you rank Joe Pavelski all-time?
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