NHL veteran Joe Pavelski makes it official with retirement announcement

Mere days following his 40th birthday, the longtime San Jose Shark and former Dallas Stars pivot confirmed to the hockey world that he was done with professional hockey after an impressive 18-year NHL career.

The Wisconsin native produced a staggering 67 points last year as a 39-year-old, so it's not as though he's lost a step. This seems to be more about Pavelski going out on his own terms. As difficult as that decision must have been, it's what he felt was right for he and his family.

Pavelski has spent his last 5 NHL seasons in Dallas and is expected to potentially take on a front office role with the Stars at some point in the not-too-distant future.

In 1,332 career regular season NHL games, Pavelski has produced an impressive 1,068 points, including 476 career NHL goals. The veteran center has also amassed 143 points across 201 career playoff games.

Congratulations to Pavelski on a wonderful career and we'd like to wish him all the best in whatever comes next.

Source for stats: Hockey DB
Joe Pavelski stats and bio