Dallas Stars' Joe Pavelski says he's done after 1,533 games, 18 NHL seasons

FRISCO, Texas — Joe Pavelski says he has played his last game after 1,533 games over 18 NHL seasons without ever getting to raise the Stanley Cup.

Pavelski, who just wrapped up his fifth season with the Dallas Stars and turns 40 next month, revealed his decision Tuesday. It came two days after the Stars lost in Game 6 of the Western Conference final for the second year in a row. He went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 at the end of his first season with Dallas, and also got that far with San Jose in 2016.

“He’s the ultimate pro. He just does everything right, he’s done that his whole career,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said just before the playoffs started. “We’re fortunate to be able for him to come here and what he’s done for our franchise. And, he does it on the ice, he does it off the ice. He’s a good person, his family life is is handled the right way, and he’s passed it on to a lot of our players.”

The Wisconsin native, whose 74 playoff goals are the most for a U.S.-born player and were the most among active players, was at the end of his contract with the Stars.

Selected 205th overall in the seventh round by the Sharks in the 2003 draft, Pavelski made his NHL debut during the 2006-07 season and went on to score 476 goals with 592 assists in 1,332 regular-season games. This season ended with him being fifth among active players for goals and seventh with 1,068 points.

Pavelski last week became the 25th player to appear in 200 postseason games; he finished with 201. He is the only one in that group without a Cup title. He had only one goal in 19 games this postseason.