| Joe Pavelski | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Pavelski (right) with theSan Jose Sharks in February 2010 | |||
| Born | (1984-07-11)July 11, 1984 (age 40) Plover, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | San Jose Sharks Dinamo Minsk Dallas Stars | ||
| National team |  United States | ||
| NHL draft | 205th overall,2003 San Jose Sharks | ||
| Playing career | 2006–2024 | ||
Joseph James Pavelski (born July 11, 1984) is an American former professionalice hockey player who played 18 seasons in theNational Hockey League (NHL) for theSan Jose Sharks andDallas Stars.
Pavelski attended theUniversity of Wisconsin and played for theWisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team. He was subsequently drafted 205th overall in the seventh round of the2003 NHL entry draft by the Sharks, with whom he spent the first thirteen years of his NHL career, additionally serving as captain during his final four years with the team. He is often regarded as one of the greatest Sharks of all time,[1][2] having led the team to theirfirst Stanley Cup Finals in 2016. After departing in free agency, he spent the final five seasons of his career in Dallas, with whom he made the Finals again in2020.
Nicknamed "Little Joe" and "Captain America", Pavelski scored agoal in his first NHL game, making him the 11th Sharks player in the history of the team to do so. He holds the record for most playoff goals by an American-born player, with 74.
Internationally, Pavelski won a silver medal as a member of theUnited States men's national ice hockey team at the2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver. He also served as captain of Team USA at the 2016World Cup of Hockey inToronto.
Pavelski was born inPlover, Wisconsin, to Sandy and Mike Pavelski, and he has three siblings – Jerry, Sheri, and Scott.[3] His family is ofPolish origin and their surname was originally spelled Pawelski.[4] His mother said: "He loved anything athletic, and hockey was just a good fit for the winter. You didn't realize that your son was that good."[5]
His younger brother, Scott, was a student-athlete for four years with theUniversity of New Hampshire men's ice hockey team, but did not play professionally.[6]
Pavelski won a Wisconsin State Hockey Championship with SPASH (Stevens Point Area Senior High) Panthers in 2002.[7] He was a member of the 2004Clark Cup championWaterloo Black Hawks of theUSHL. He won the 2004USHLDave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award.[8]
Pavelski played in 84 games over two seasons (2004–06) at theUniversity of Wisconsin of theWestern Collegiate Hockey Association He recorded 101 points (39–62). Pavelski was named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team in 2005, was selected to the All-WCHA Second Team, and the Men's RBK Division I West All-America Second Team. He helped Wisconsin win the2006 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship,[9] while leading the team in overall points.[10]
Pavelski began his NHL career in the2006–07 season. He began on a hot streak, scoring a goal in his first game, and scoring 7 goals and 10 points in his first 12 games. Pavelski earned the nickname "Little Joe" from Sharks announcerRandy Hahn, a reference to Pavelski's teammate and San Jose superstar "Jumbo Joe",Joe Thornton.[11]
During the2007–08 season, Pavelski became a regular player on the Sharks roster and one of the best and most consistent young players on the squad, playing in all 82 regular season games and in all 132008 Stanley Cup playoff games. He also became one of the most effective players in the NHL duringshootouts, scoring 7 times on 11 opportunities that season. During the 2008 playoffs, he was tied withRyane Clowe for the team lead in goals (five) and tied for second with Clowe in points (nine). Pavelski also led San Jose with three game-winning goals during the playoffs, which tied for third most in the playoffs overall. In addition to his offensive numbers, he finished tied 12th among NHL forwards in blocked shots (59) during the regular season.[12]
Pavelski had another solid season in2008–09, playing in 80 games and recording 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points, career-highs for all three statistics at the time.
During the2010 playoffs, Pavelski had three-straight multi-goal games (Game 6 against theColorado Avalanche and Games 1 and 2 against theDetroit Red Wings), not only helping the Sharks win all three games, but also becoming the first player to do so sinceMario Lemieux in 1992. It was after this streak that he also picked up the nickname "The Big Pavelski" to accompany his nickname of "Little Joe".
Pavelski came close to scoring his first NHLhat-trick on March 19, 2011, against theSt. Louis Blues. After the game, however, one of the goals was awarded toPatrick Marleau, when it had been originally attributed to Pavelski.[13]
During the2012–13 NHL lockout, Pavelski signed with Belarusian teamDinamo Minsk of theKontinental Hockey League (KHL).[14]
On July 30, 2013, the Sharks announced that Pavelski had signed a new five-year contract with the team effective from the2014–15 season through to the2018–19 season.[15] On March 11, 2014, against theToronto Maple Leafs, Pavelski scored his 400th career NHL point.[16] During the season, Pavelski recorded a career-high 41 goals and 79 points.[17]
During the 2014–15 season, Pavelski had another strong offensive season, scoring 70 points (37 goals and 33 assists)[18] and was named one of the Sharks' four alternate captains.
On October 5, 2015, Pavelski was named the Sharks' ninth captain in history, over teammates (and former Sharks' captains) Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.[19][20]
During the2015–16 regular season, Pavelski tallied 78 points (38 goals and 40 assists) and he earned a spot in the2016 NHL All-Star Game. He finished fifth in the NHL in goals with 38, sixth in points and first in game-winning goals with 11. Pavelski's success continued into the2016 playoffs, as he led the Sharks into their first ever Stanley Cup Finals. Pavelski only scored one goal in theFinals, though he still finished as the playoff leader in goals (14) and finished third in points (23).[18]
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On December 1, 2017, Pavelski scored his 300th NHL goal on a pass from Joe Thornton against theFlorida Panthers.[21] He became only the second Sharks player to score 300 goals with the team, Patrick Marleau.[22]
On April 23, 2019, during the2019 playoffs, Pavelski suffered a major head injury after across check fromVegas Golden Knights centerCody Eakin, followed immediately by an incidental collision with Vegas'Paul Stastny which knocked Pavelski awkwardly to the ice.[23] Pavelski was helped off of the ice and did not return to the game. Eakin was charged with a five-minutemajor penalty and a ten-minutegame misconduct,[24] which enabled the Sharks to score four goals in five minutes and send the game to overtime. The Sharks later won the game 5–4 in overtime and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.[25]
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On July 1, 2019, as an unrestricted free agent, Pavelski signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Dallas Stars.[26] On August 16, 2020, during the first round of the2020 playoffs, Pavelski scored the first postseasonhat-trick in Stars history since their relocation fromMinnesota;Dino Ciccarelli (twice),Steve Payne andBob Brooke had previously scored playoff hat-tricks for the North Stars.[27]On September 26, 2020, in game 5 of the2020 Stanley Cup Finals against theTampa Bay Lightning, Pavelski scored his 61st playoff goal against Tampa Bay goaltenderAndrei Vasilevskiy, surpassingJoe Mullen (who has 60 playoff goals) as the all-time playoff goal scorer by a United States-born player. Pavelski and the Stars would go on to lose the series 4-2.
Pavelski was named an alternate captain for the2021–22 season and has played on the Stars' top-line, alongside young gunsRoope Hintz andJason Robertson.[28] That top-line led the Stars in scoring, accounting for almost 44% of the Stars’ goals.[29] Given the age difference between Pavelski and his linemates (12 and 15 years), the line became known as the "Pavelski and Sons" line in the Dallas sports media. On November 26, 2021, he scored his 400th NHL goal, making him the tenth American-born player to do so.[30] On March 11, 2022, the Stars signed Pavelski to a one-year, $5.5 million contract.[31]He would go on to enjoy a highly productive output during the2021–22 season, scoring 27 goals with 54 assists for a career-best 81 points in the season in all 82 games played.
On January 1, 2023, the Stars signed Pavelski to a one-year, $3.5 million extension.[32] Pavelski scored his1,000th career point in a 6–1 win over theDetroit Red Wings with a goal on goaltenderVille Husso on April 10, 2023.[33]
Following the Stars' elimination from the2024 playoffs in early June, Pavelski initially indicated that he planned to retire, though he declined to do so officially.[34] A month and a half later, on July 16, 2024, five days after his 40th birthday, Pavelski formally announced his retirement from professional hockey.[35]
 Pavelski (#16) andRyan Callahan (#24, with puck) move up ice againstCanada during the2010 Winter Olympics. | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ice hockey | ||
Representing United States | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 2010 Vancouver | Team |
On January 1, 2010, Pavelski was selected to the2010USA Olympic team, the only USA player from the San Jose Sharks. He had three assists in the team's silver medal effort and was second in faceoff percentage amongst all players in the tournament. In the waning seconds of regulation time in the gold medal game, Pavelski won a faceoff,[5] swatted a clearing attempt out of the air, and made a pass that set up the play that resulted in the Americans tying the game with 24 seconds left. He was nicknamed "Swiss Army Knife" by USA general managerBrian Burke.[36] On January 1, 2014, Pavelski was selected to the2014 USA Olympic team, his second appearance. After being named captain of Team USA for the2016 World Cup of Hockey, he also earned the nickname "Captain America".
Pavelski and his wife have one son. He is the co-owner of theJanesville Jets of theNorth American Hockey League (NAHL).
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2000–01 | Stevens Point Area Senior High School | HS-WI | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Stevens Point Area Senior High School | HS-WI | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | 61 | 36 | 33 | 69 | 32 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 | ||
| 2003–04 | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | 52 | 21 | 31 | 52 | 58 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 10 | ||
| 2004–05 | University of Wisconsin | WCHA | 41 | 16 | 29 | 45 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | University of Wisconsin | WCHA | 43 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Worcester Sharks | AHL | 16 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 46 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 82 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 80 | 25 | 34 | 59 | 46 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | ||
| 2009–10 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 67 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 26 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 74 | 20 | 46 | 66 | 24 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | ||
| 2011–12 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 82 | 31 | 30 | 61 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 2012–13 | Dinamo Minsk | KHL | 17 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 48 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 82 | 41 | 38 | 79 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 82 | 37 | 33 | 70 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 82 | 38 | 40 | 78 | 30 | 24 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 81 | 29 | 39 | 68 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 82 | 22 | 44 | 66 | 41 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | ||
| 2018–19 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 75 | 38 | 26 | 64 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | ||
| 2019–20 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 67 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 30 | ||
| 2020–21 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 56 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 82 | 27 | 54 | 81 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 82 | 28 | 49 | 77 | 8 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 82 | 27 | 40 | 67 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,332 | 476 | 592 | 1,068 | 458 | 201 | 74 | 69 | 143 | 84 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | United States | WC | 4th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | United States | OG |  | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2014 | United States | OG | 4th | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2016 | United States | WCH | 7th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Senior totals | 20 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 4 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| All-WCHARookie Team | 2004–05 | |
| All-WCHASecond team | 2005–06 | |
| AHCAWest second-team All-American | 2005–06 | |
| NHL | ||
| Second All-Star team | 2014 | |
| NHL All-Star | 2016,2017,2019,2022 | |
Joe Pavelski is called "Little Joe" in the Sharks' dressing room to differentiate him from Big Joe – Jumbo Joe Thornton.
Media related toJoe Pavelski at Wikimedia Commons
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | San Jose Sharks captain 2015–2019 | Succeeded by |