What’s next for Joe Pavelski after 18 seasons in the NHL?

Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterMay 27, 2024, 02:40 PM ET

CloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.

Every offseason, Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill will chat with the organization’s younger players about a number of items. Part of that discussion includes what it means to be successful with details such as winning puck battles.

That’s when Nill begins asking a set of questions.

Are you stronger than Joe Pavelski? Are you faster than Joe Pavelski? Can you compete as hard as Joe Pavelski?

“They’ll say, ‘Yep’ and I’ll ask, ‘So why is it that he wins the battles and you don’t?'” Nill said. “I said, ‘That’s what you gotta do.’ You’ve got to find your way. Joe has found a way to do it. What it is? I don’t know. … He’s figured out a way to do it and that’s what he can pass on to other kids.”

Stories such as these can be found in great supply throughout the Stars organization whether it be from Nill, others in the front office, the coaching staff or players. Talking about Pavelski can make people feel many things ranging from reverence and respect to getting emotional because that’s what he means to so many.

This is why everybody wants to see Pavelski play at least one more season. This is also why nobody wants to see him leave the Stars no matter what he decides to do next, should he call time on a career that could see him in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

A 2-1 loss Sunday to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals ended the Stars’ season in the conference final for a consecutive campaign.

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It’s also a defeat that may have brought Pavelski’s career to an end.

Pavelski, who turns 40 in July, had five shots on goal while logging 16:50 of ice time in what might have been his last game. For his career, he has scored 476 goals and notched 1,068 points while appearing in 1,332 career regular-season games. In the postseason, he has had 74 goals and 143 points in 200 playoff games throughout his career.

That career has allowed him to win…


Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40268642/next-dallas-stars-joe-pavelski-18-seasons-nhl

Author : Ryan S. Clark

Publish date : 2024-06-03 19:51:49

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