Pavelski is a natural goal-scorer, and he showed it even as an 18-year-old in being named United States Hockey League Rookie of the Year in 2002-03, when he led the league with 36 goals for Waterloo.

After being selected by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round (No. 205) in the 2003 NHL Draft, Pavelski led Waterloo in goals again 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 rookies with 45. As a sophomore, Pavelski helped Wisconsin to the NCAA title, leading the Badgers in assists (33) and points (56) and ranking second with 23 goals.

Pavelski turned pro and spent 16 games with Worcester of the American Hockey League, scoring 26 points and earning a call-up to San Jose. He made his NHL debut Nov. 22, 2006 with the Sharks, scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Kings. Pavelski 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, and in 2010 helped the United States earn a silver medal at the Winter Olympics. He had a six-game point streak during the 2010 playoffs and became the first NHL player since Mario Lemieux 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. He led the Sharks with 12 points in the 2013 playoffs.

Pavelski enjoyed a breakout season in 2013-14, becoming the fourth player in Sharks history score 40 goals (joining Owen Nolan, Jonathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau). Pavelski had three hat tricks and was named to the Second All-Star Team. Named the Sharks Player of the Year, he finished seventh in Hart Trophy voting and eighth in Selke Trophy balloting. Pavelski also played for the United States at the 2014 Winter 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 shared the plus/minus lead at plus-25. He also was selected to the NHL All-Star Game for the first time.

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. 2, 2017.