Stars F Joe Pavelski plans to retire after 18 NHL seasons

Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski announced on Tuesday that he plans to retire from professional hockey. Speaking at the team’s exit interview day, Pavelski revealed that he has decided not to play in the upcoming 2024-25 NHL season, marking the end of his illustrious career that spanned 18 seasons.

While Pavelski emphasized that his retirement is not yet official, he made it clear that he is leaning towards stepping away from the game, expressing the need to take time to process his decision and handle logistical matters. Turning 40 in July, Pavelski was one of the oldest players in the league during his final season.

Known for his tenure with the San Jose Sharks, where he spent 13 seasons and served as captain from 2015 to 2019, Pavelski’s career highlights include four NHL All-Star Game appearances and two Stanley Cup Finals, though he fell short of lifting the coveted trophy on both occasions. Notably, he holds the NHL record for most playoff goals scored by a U.S.-born player, registering 74 goals in 201 postseason games.

In his 1,332 regular-season games, Pavelski amassed an impressive 1,068 points, tallying 476 goals and 592 assists. Joining the Stars as a free agent in 2019, Pavelski expressed gratitude for his time in Dallas, acknowledging the support he received from teammates and the organization during their recent playoff run, which ended in the Western Conference finals.

Reflecting on his journey, Pavelski spoke about striving for excellence and finding success at a high level, crediting the collaborative effort of his teammates and the organization for sustaining his performance. Despite his individual achievements, Pavelski highlighted the importance of the collective effort that contributed to his on-ice success.