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Joe Pavelski announced his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday after 18 seasons. 

Pavelski, who celebrated his 40th birthday on July 11th, accumulated 67 points (27 goals, 40 assists) throughout 82 regular-season games for the Dallas Stars in the previous season. However, his performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was not as remarkable, as he only managed to contribute four points (one goal, three assists) in 19 games. Unfortunately, Dallas was defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final after a six-game series.

In an interview with NHL Morning Skate on SiriusXM, the forward expressed his readiness to transition away from actively participating in the game. He clarified that he currently has no intention to continue playing. Rather than immediately using the term ‘retirement,’ he prefers to acknowledge that nothing is definitively decided yet. However, the plan is firmly in place to step back from playing. He simply desired a bit more time after the season to contemplate his decision.

At that time, I felt quite content with the plan and didn’t want to leave others in a state of uncertainty, discussing certain matters. However, our perspective has become more evident after contemplating it further over the past month. This is simply a wonderful opportunity for our family and my career.

Pavelski announced that he does not intend to play in the upcoming season following the elimination of the Stars. However, he did not provide any details about his plans beyond that.

Pavelski stated on June 4th that this marked the end for him. It had been known for some time, probably. The intention is to not play next year. While it’s not official yet, the plan is not to return. There will be further details to follow. Everything is still fresh, nothing is confirmed. More information will be shared. I will need some time to process and organize my thoughts. It’s highly likely that this was the end, and I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity or a better group of individuals to be with.

Pavelski, who was chosen by the San Jose Sharks in the 2003 NHL Draft’s seventh round (No. 205), has accumulated an impressive 1,068 points (476 goals, 592 assists) throughout his career in 1,332 regular-season games with the Stars and Sharks. Following his signing as a free agent on July 1, 2019, Pavelski has spent the last five seasons with the Stars.

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After the conclusion of the regular season, Pavelski held the fifth position in both goals scored and games played, while also securing the seventh spot in terms of points achieved among all active players.

“I am uncertain if this will mark Joe’s final game or not, however, coaching a remarkable individual like him has been the utmost honor of my coaching career,” expressed Stars coach Pete DeBoer following a 2-1 defeat against the Oilers in Game 6 on June 2nd. “The presence of a player like Joe has undoubtedly enhanced the growth of our young athletes.”

During his 13-year tenure with San Jose, Pavelski solidified his legacy as one of the Sharks’ top players. He holds the second-highest goal record in franchise history, scoring an impressive 355 goals. Additionally, Pavelski ranks third in points with 761 and games played with 1,104, while also sitting comfortably in fourth place for assists with 406. Serving as captain from 2015 to 2019, he showcased exceptional leadership skills on and off the ice. In the playoffs, Pavelski’s contributions were invaluable, tallying 100 points, including 48 goals and 52 assists, in 134 games. His stellar performances propelled the Sharks to the postseason in 12 of those appearances, with a notable highlight being their journey to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. Unfortunately, the team fell short, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a six-game series.

Pavelski’s time with Dallas spanned five seasons, during which he showcased his skills with an impressive tally of 307 points (121 goals, 186 assists). Notably, he achieved a remarkable career-high of 81 points (27 goals, 54 assists) in the 2021-22 season. Throughout the past four seasons, Pavelski proved his durability by participating in every game, only missing two matches during his entire tenure with the team. In the Stars’ journey to the Cup Final in 2020, Pavelski emerged as their leading scorer with 13 goals in 27 games; however, they ultimately fell short against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a six-game series.

During his 18-season career, Pavelski participated in the playoffs 16 times and accumulated a total of 143 points, consisting of 74 goals and 69 assists, across 201 games. As he approached retirement, Pavelski held the top position among active players in playoff goals and ranked fourth in overall points, behind Sidney Crosby (201) and Evgeni Malkin (180) of the Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as Nikita Kucherov (167) of the Lightning.

Pavelski, a United States-born player, holds impressive rankings within his peers. He secures the fifth spot in both points and goals, while also claiming the seventh position in games played. Additionally, he proudly stands at 11th place in assists. Notably, Pavelski’s exceptional performance during the 2013-14 season earned him a spot on the NHL Second All-Star team, where he achieved a career-high of 41 goals and 79 points in 82 games with the Sharks. Moreover, his talent and contributions led to his participation in four NHL All-Star Games, held in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022.

“I don’t think it’ll really set in until next year when you come back for camp and [Pavelski’s] not there,” Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said after the season ended. “When you’re on the plane and he’s right next to me and he’s not in his seat. I just don’t think there’s enough words to say how big of a presence he is and it’s not a hole you’ll ever be able to fill. You’ll do the best you can but you’re never going to fill that.

He truly embodies the essence of an exceptional teammate and an outstanding individual. Having the privilege of being his teammate for four years has been an indescribable experience. The knowledge and wisdom he has imparted on me go beyond mere words; it is his actions that truly speak volumes. What sets him apart is his ability to not just preach, but to embody and live by the values he holds dear. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest teammates of all time.

NHL.com columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika and independent correspondent Taylor Baird contributed to this report