Dallas Stars Forward Joe Pavelski's NHL Career Likely Done

Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski didn't officially announce his retirement, but he said he doesn't plan to play next season and that this season is his last in the NHL.

Joe Pavelski continues to put up the points at 39 years old, reaching 25 goals and passing 60 points as the Dallas Stars try once again to go all the way.

On Tuesday, long-time NHL forward Joe Pavelski provided a significant update about his playing future.

The 39-year-old shared that he does not plan to play in the 2024-25 NHL season and that this campaign was very likely his last.

"This was it for me, Pavelski told reporters in Dallas on Tuesday. "It was known for a while, probably. The plan is not to play next year.

"I don't want to say this is official, but the plan is not to be coming back. There will be more to come on that. Everything is still so raw, nothing official. There will be more words. I'm going to need a little bit of time to really put it together and figure it out that way. Most likely, that was it and couldn't ask for a better opportunity and a better group of guys to be around."

Pavelski remained a vital part of the Stars' roster in 2023-24, even while nearing his 40s. In 82 regular-season games, he had 27 goals and was second on the club with 67 points. However, he struggled during the playoffs, as he had just one goal and three assists in 19 games.

There is no question that the Stars will miss Pavelski next season. Replacing his production and leadership will be a big challenge. However, they are also built for long-term success, as they have young players in Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque who should only improve from here.

Besides blossoming into a true American NHL star, the Plover, Wisc., native's journey to the NHL only adds to his remarkable story. The San Jose Sharks selected him in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2003 NHL draft. Not too many seventh-rounders make it to the NHL, let alone become one of the league's best players and a captain.

In 1,332 career regular-season NHL games split between the Sharks and Stars, Pavelski had 476 goals, 592 assists, 1,068 points and a plus-201 rating. He also had 74 goals, 69 assists and 143 points in 201 playoff games. And in 2014, he was named to the NHL's second all-star team.

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