Any team in the NHL needs its veteran players to provide a plethora of experience to the next generation. The Dallas Stars have a supreme veteran extended for another year. Joe Pavelski is a long-time player who is the epitome of professionalism, class, and experience. The Stars get Pavelski for another year at $3.5 Million. He is taking yet another pay cut to remain with the Stars. Pavelski is nearing 39 years old and is still producing on the regular. His time on the Stars deserves another dive into.
3 Years $21 Million
The Stars needed something after another Game 7 overtime loss in 2019. The front office looked for a spark offensively to provide a new touch of scoring. They found solace in long-time San Jose Shark Pavelski. Some were concerned that the Stars would offer him $7 million per year for 3 years starting at age 35. Concerns quickly evaporated as the veteran scorer proved that he could still play. Pavelski lead the scoring throughout the run to the Stanley Cup Final and came close, two wins away from his first title again.
His second season was better than the first, recording 51 points in 56 games, leading the team in that category alongside most goals. His final season in this contract paved the way for two new future stars of the team.
Veteran Leadership
Pavelski lead the top line in the 2021-2022 season alongside Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. Pavelski’s 54 assists helped him become #1 on the team with 81 points in 82 games. The fact that he played all 82 games in a season at his age is astounding. Robertson scored 41 goals that season partly due to the leadership of Pavelski. He is a team player of paramount importance going into this season.
First Extension
He took a pay cut while extending his contract one more year for the 2022-2023 season. Pavelski is still keeping up his touch with 38 points in 40 games. This number is not bad for someone at age 38. Pavelski is 3rd in points production for the 23-11-6 Stars team. He recently signed another 1-year extension through the 2023-2024 season.
Next Year
Pavelski will play with the Stars at age 39. He signed a 1-year, $3.5 million extension. At this point, there are no concerns about his production slowing down since he is still top 3 on the team. The Hintz-Robertson-Pavelski line still leads the team in scoring so his veteran leadership is noticed. He will spend 5 years playing with the Stars looking for that elusive Stanley Cup Championship. The Stars seem like a team out on a mission this year.
Pavelski deserves a Stanley Cup ring. Seeing him raise the Stanley Cup above his head in a Stars uniform will be something else. The Stars have a long way to go until that happens but Pavelski will lead this team with his veteran leadership over the next two seasons. This upcoming season will be his 18th in the NHL.
Photo Credit: Dallas Stars Twitter
