Joe Pavelski Retires from NHL, Concluding an Illustrious 18-Year Career

Tuesday, June 4th, 2024

Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski indicated on Tuesday that he does not plan to play next season, mentioning that this season was likely his last.

Although he didn't officially announce his retirement from the NHL, Pavelski disclosed during the Stars' exit interviews that he had expected this to be his final season.

Pavelski, who will turn 40 in July, was the second-oldest player in the NHL this past season after Mark Giordano. In his fifth season with the Stars, he had been seen as a strong contender for the Stanley Cup, a trophy he has yet to win in his 18-year career.

The Stars' season ended with a 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference final, leading to speculation about Pavelski's future. Team members like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Wyatt Johnston, who lived with Pavelski's family, showed emotional responses when asked if this might have been Pavelski's last game.

As an unrestricted free agent, Pavelski had five shots on goal and played for 16 minutes and 50 seconds in what seemed to be his final game.

Stars' coach Pete DeBoer, who had also coached Pavelski with the San Jose Sharks, acknowledged that Game 6 might have been Pavelski's last game, highlighting the positive impact Pavelski had on younger players.

During the team's second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, Pavelski told ESPN he wasn't overly concerned about his future beyond the season.

Stars' general manager Jim Nill mentioned that Pavelski didn't want to make his future a distraction during the second round.

Pavelski was drafted by the Sharks in 2003 and eventually became team captain and one of their all-time greats. After two seasons at the University of Wisconsin,

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