Joe Pavelski and Dallas Stars Part Ways: Veteran Forward Retires After 18 Seasons
Joe Pavelski and the Dallas Stars officially parted ways on Monday, announcing the veteran forward’s NHL retirement after an 18-season career split between Dallas and San Jose.
This marked the final chapter of a gradual conclusion that began at the end of last season.
Pavelski shared his thoughts on social media about retiring from the sport.
“For the past 18 years, I’ve felt incredibly fortunate. Achieving my childhood dream of playing in the NHL with two fantastic teams—San Jose first, then Dallas—alongside some of the best people in hockey has been a blessing,” Pavelski wrote.
He emphasized how the connections he built with fans in both cities fueled his drive to meet his personal expectations.
Pavelski, originally a seventh-round draft pick, stands out as one of the most successful late-round selections in NHL history, joining Doug Gilmour (1,474) and Luc Robitaille (1,431) as the only players drafted in the seventh round or later to play at least 1,200 games. He amassed 1,068 points (476 goals and 592 assists) in his career. In 201 playoff games, he recorded 143 points (74 goals and 69 assists), leading all active players in career playoff goals.
“Joe’s daily standard of excellence has left a lasting impact on our organization,” said Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill. “His leadership, practice habits, mentorship of young players, and constant drive to improve have been integral to our success over the past five seasons. Joe’s career proves he’s one of the greatest to ever play, with a resume that speaks for itself.”
Last offseason, Pavelski signed a one-year extension with the Stars to pursue an elusive Stanley Cup but fell short in the Western Conference finals for the second consecutive season.
Although he didn’t immediately announce his retirement at the season’s end in June, Pavelski indicated his intention to retire during exit interviews, saying, “The plan is not to be coming back.”
“I cherished every opportunity to chase a championship, which made coming to the rink every day exciting and motivating,” Pavelski said. “The love and support from everyone helped me through challenging times and created memorable moments, which we now cherish together.”
Since his NHL debut in 2006, Pavelski played over 1,500 regular-season and playoff games with the Sharks and Stars. He was the postseason’s leading goal-scorer eight years ago, tied for the most games played in the 2020 playoff bubble, and is regarded as one of the most admired forwards of his generation.
“[He’s meant] the world,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said. “All-time teammate, person, great leader, good friend.”
The Stars and Sharks both posted tributes to Pavelski on social media following the announcement.
Pavelski reached seven conference finals and two Stanley Cup finals, ranking third among active players in games played without winning a Cup, trailing only former teammates Ryan Suter and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns.
