Pavelski did everything he could to help the Dallas Stars win the Stanley Cup in 2020, setting a couple of NHL marks in the process.

At age 36, the native of Plover, Wisconsin, led the Stars and was second among all players with 13 playoff goals, passing Maurice Richard for the most goals scored in one playoff year by a player 34 or older. His 13th goal came late in the third period in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning; it was his 61st in NHL postseason competition, passing Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Mullen for the most by a U.S.-born player. The 13 playoff goals were one fewer than he scored during the regular season with Dallas, which signed him as a free agent on July 1, 2019, after he played his first 13 NHL seasons with the San Jose Sharks.

Pavelski reached another milestone with the Stars when he became the 10th United States-born player in NHL history to score 400 goals in a 3-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche at American Airlines Center on Nov. 26, 2021. He was the 199th NHL player, and the 18th born in the United States, to score 300 goals during a 2-1 win against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 1, 2017..

His scoring skills were apparent, even as an 18-year-old. He was named United States Hockey League Rookie of the Year in 2002-03 after leading the league with 36 goals for Waterloo. After being selected by the Sharks in the seventh round (No. 205) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Pavelski led Waterloo in goals again with 21 and helped the team win the Clark Cup in 2004. He also captained the USA Hockey Junior Select team to a silver medal at the Viking Cup.

Pavelski headed to the University of Wisconsin in 2004-05 and shared the NCAA lead in points among freshmen with 45 (16 goals, 29 assists). As a sophomore, Pavelski helped Wisconsin to the NCAA championship in 2006, leading the Badgers in assists (33) and points (56) and ranking second with 23 goals. He turned pro and had 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 16 games with Worcester of the American Hockey League, earning a call-up to San Jose. Pavelski made his NHL debut with the Sharks on Nov. 22, 2006, scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Kings, and scored his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal that season against the Nashville Predators in his second postseason game.

Pavelski had his first 20-goal season in the NHL in 2008-09, when he finished with 25. One year later, he helped the United States earn a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He had a six-game point streak during the 2010 playoffs and became the first NHL player since Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992 to score more than once in three consecutive postseason games. In 2010-11, Pavelski reached 60 points for the first time, and in 2011-12 he had his first 30-goal season, when he scored 31. He led the Sharks with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in the 2013 playoffs.

2013-14 was a breakout season for Pavelski. He established NHL career highs with 41 goals and 79 points and became the fourth player in Sharks history to score 40 goals in a season (joining Owen Nolan, Jonathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau). Pavelski had three hat tricks and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team. He was named the Sharks Player of the Year, finished seventh in Hart Trophy voting and was eighth in Selke Trophy balloting. Pavelski also played for the United States at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The 2014-15 season saw Pavelski finish second in the NHL with 19 power-play goals and fifth in the League with 37 goals. Named captain of the Sharks to start the 2015-16 season, Pavelski led San Jose with 38 goals and tied for the best plus-minus rating on the Sharks at plus-25. He was selected to the NHL All-Star Game for the first time that season and led the NHL with 14 playoff goals to help San Jose reach its first Stanley Cup Final, where it lost to the Penguins in six games.

Pavelski became the 199th NHL player, and the 18th born in the United States, to score 300 goals when he reached the milestone in a 2-1 win against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 1, 2017.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• USHL All-Rookie Team (2003)
• USHL First All-Star Team (2003)
• USHL Rookie of the Year (2003)
• WCHA All-Rookie Team (2005)
• WCHA Second All-Star Team (2006)
• NCAA West Second All-American Team (2006)
• NHL Second All-Star Team (2014)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2016, 2017, 2019)
• Signed as a free agent by Minsk (KHL), October 5, 2012.
• Signed as a free agent by Dallas, July 1, 2019.