Joe Pavelski officially announced his retirement from the NHL on July 16, but it was on Monday that hockey fans received an emotional farewell from the veteran player, who highlighted two memorable moments from his 18-year career.
“There are two standout moments from my career, and interestingly, they both began with me getting knocked out,” Pavelski shared in an Instagram post on Monday.
Fans of the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars will recognize these events, both of which occurred during playoff games. In 2023, Pavelski was sidelined by a hit from Minnesota’s Matt Dumba during a Stars playoff game. Another notable moment was in 2019 when a cross-check by Cody Eakin in Game 7 led to the Sharks scoring four goals in four minutes, propelling them to a dramatic Game 7 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Pavelski reflected on how these incidents underscored the support he received from teammates and fans.
“These moments deepened my understanding of what the hockey fan and player experience is all about—living for those miraculous and unexpected stories that keep us coming back for more,” he wrote.
Beyond the hits, Pavelski expressed gratitude to his family, fans, and former teammates for making his career unforgettable.
“For the past 18 years, I’ve felt incredibly fortunate,” Pavelski wrote. “I realized my childhood dream of playing in the NHL for two wonderful franchises—San Jose and Dallas—surrounded by some of the best people in hockey. My time in those cities allowed me to forge deep connections with both fanbases, and that support gave me the drive to meet the expectations I set for myself.”
Drafted by San Jose in the seventh round (No. 205) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Pavelski concludes his career with 1,068 points (476 goals, 592 assists) across 1,332 regular-season games with the Sharks and the Stars. He spent 13 seasons in San Jose, serving as captain from 2015 to 2019, and ranks second in franchise history for goals (355), third in points (761) and games (1,104), and fourth in assists (406).
