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Sharks Alumni: Reflecting on Joe Pavelski’s time in teal

By Quentin Thorne |
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 10: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks wears a new guard on his helmet against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019 in San Jose, California. Pavelski scored a goal after a puck ricochet off of his face in the first period. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 10: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks wears a new guard on his helmet against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019 in San Jose, California. Pavelski scored a goal after a puck ricochet off of his face in the first period. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

After 13 years in San Jose, including four years as captain, Pavelski had one of the best careers in Sharks history.

From the first time he took the ice, Joe Pavelski was a fan favorite in San Jose. He had all the attributes that appeal to a Californian hockey fan.

As an American, Pavs benefitted from home country bias and his performance on the national team. His efforts at that level resulted in him earning the nickname of Captain America.

He also connected to his local level roots in his early years, playing for his hometown Wisconsin Badgers at the collegiate level. During that time, he led the red and white to an NCAA championship.

However, he still was not a highly touted recruit because he is undersized for a center. The Sharks took a chance on him with their seventh-round pick in 2003, and it paid off.

By 2006 Pavs competed at the NHL level in teal as he began to blossom into a team leader.

During the 2013-2014 season, he established himself as a premier talent in the NHL, carrying the roster with 79 points and earning his first All-Star appearance.

His biggest achievement with Team Teal was being named captain during the 2015-2016 season. That year, he accounted for 75+ points with a balanced count of 38 goals and 40 assists.

It only got better heading into the post-season. Pavelski paved the way for the team with 14 goals, 9 assists, and 23 points over 24 games, and it culminated in the first Stanley Cup appearance in franchise history for the Sharks.

As a fan, I will never forget the energy in the crowd during game six against the Blues in the Western Conference Final. Pavs and San Jose put on a clinic in a commanding 5-2 win and it ended in an electric Conference Championship celebration.

Unfortunately, the dream would be crushed in the following series, falling in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. But the year was still a success for Team Teal got and they reasserted their status as a perennial contender after missing the previous season’s playoffs.

After that, father time did start to catch-up with the star, and his statistics indicated that, coming up just short of a 70-point season. In the face of that adversity, he was still completely physically and emotionally invested in bringing a cup to San Jose.

Team Teal never achieved that goal during his tenure, and it clearly crushed the Wisconsin native. Once the 2018-2019 season wrapped up, Doug Wilson offed Pavelski a joke of a contract, and he determined it was in his best interest to leave.

Thankfully he made the most of his situation, signing with the Dallas Stars, officially ending his time in San Jose.

In green, he returned to the Stanley Cup Final in a unique Edmonton bubble series. Yet again, he fell short of his cup dream, as fellow former Shark Barclay Goodrow and the Tampa Bay Lightning marched to a championship.

Looking back on his career thus far, he is one of the best to do it in the 21st century. His San Jose career offensive production includes 355 goals and 406 assists. The Sharks were blessed to have Pavelski over the last decade.

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