Joe Pavelski signs with Dallas Stars, ending era with Sharks
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SAN JOSE — The Joe Pavelski era with the San Jose Sharks is over.
Pavelski’s departure from the Sharks became official Monday as he signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Dallas Stars to end his 13-year tenure in San Jose. News of the agreement between Pavelski and the Stars broke late Sunday afternoon.
Unless the Sharks made another trade to free up more cap space, they had next to no chance to match the contract offer made by the Stars, who were one goal away this spring of beating the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Pierre LeBrun of TSN reported that Pavelski’s deal contains a full no trade clause in the first two years, then a modified no-trade clause in the third year when the NHL will hold its expansion draft for the team in Seattle.
“It is not every day a player the caliber of Joe becomes available, and we’re thrilled to be able to add him to our club,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement. “He is a leader in every sense of the word, and a proven goal-scorer that continues to produce at an elite level. In meeting with him, it is evident how much he values winning, and that mindset will mesh perfectly with our leadership group.”
The Sharks signed defenseman Erik Karlsson to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension two weeks ago, a deal that takes up over 14 percent of the NHL’s $81.5 million salary cap limit for next season.
That limited any chance the Sharks had of keeping Pavelski or other pending unrestricted free agents such as Gus Nyquist or Joonas Donskoi, who also departed the Sharks on Monday, signing four-year deals with Colorado and Columbus, respectively..
“Under a cap system, these extremely difficult separations are a reality and, unfortunately, we could not find common ground on dollars and term to keep Joe in San Jose,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. “However, like many other players around the NHL, Joe has earned the right to become a free agent. We respect his decision and want to thank Joe, his wife Sarah and son, Nate, for 13 wonderful seasons. They will always be part of the San Jose Sharks family.”
Pavelski, 34, spent 13 seasons with the Sharks and became the franchise’s all-time second-leading scorer with 355 goals. His 406 assists and 761 points ranks third all-time in team history and his 963 regular season games played ranks fourth.
Pavelski, the Sharks captain the last four years, also recorded 100 points in 134 career playoff games, as the Sharks made the playoffs in 12 of his 13 seasons with the team. He also played 495 consecutive games from Jan. 2011 to April 2017, the second-longest streak in franchise history behind Patrick Marleau’s record of 624.
“From being a seventh-round draft pick in 2003 to serving as captain of our team for the last four seasons, Joe Pavelski’s place in Sharks history is firmly cemented and he will be sorely missed,” Wilson said. “Joe led by example, not only as a player but as a person, and the impact he has had on this franchise and his teammates will be felt for years to come.”
Pavelski was named an NHL All-Star in 2016, 2017 and 2019, and helped Team USA win the silver medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. He was also an Olympian in 2014, the last year the NHL allowed its players to compete in the games.
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