Former San Jose Sharks Captain Joe Pavelski has signed a 3 year 21 million dollar deal with the Dallas Stars.
Dear Joe Pavelski, thank you for everything you have done for the San Jose Sharks over the past 13 years. From a leader on the ice to a leader in the community you have been everything that Sharks territory could have hoped for.
Although it will be weird to not see you in teal next season, from everyone in San Jose we wish you nothing but the best.
Joe you have consistently delivered at a high level. Whether it be your quick rise through the ranks of the team as a 7th rounder, your transition of taking the captain spot, your amazing cup run in 2016, to sacrificing your body multiple times throughout the series against Vegas to push your team to the next level. You have consistently given everything for this organization over the course of 1,097 total games.
Someday number 8 will be in the rafters of the SAP center, and San Jose Sharks fans everywhere will look back at your time in teal with fondness.
However, the Sharks have signaled that they are set on the prioritizing their future. Hopefully Team Teal’s new captain has the capacity to push the team to the next level. Although many thought you would be the captain of a Sharks cup team, reality inevitably has to set in.
Nevertheless, it is time to move on. Both the team and yourself need to move to greener pastures. For you it is a fancy new contract with a fresh start. For the San Jose Sharks it is time to choose a new captain. Someone who can potentially carry the team to Stanley Cup greatness. Perhaps it’s a player like Logan Couture, who brought excitement to the fan base during another spectacular season and postseason.
As a fan base we are all sad to see you go, and we carry no animosity. But we are all aware that it is time for a fresh start when it comes to naming a captain of the San Jose Sharks.
So thank you Joe, thank you for your fight, thank you for your tenacity, thank you for your time but when the Stanley Cup Playoffs roll around and these two teams meet don’t anticipate fans of Team Teal to take as cordially as they might be today.
From your friends,
Sharks Nation