Pavelski continues to defy age, expectations as Stars roll Blue Jackets

Joe Pavelski doesn't really enjoy questions about his age, but the 36-year-old center keeps setting marks that often start with "oldest player to…" so he's getting used to it.
Pavelski on Tuesday had two goals and two assists in a 6-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. That gives him 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in seven games to begin the season -- the best start in his 15-season career. It's a sign that he is battling age quite well and earning a lot of respect along the way.

MORE COVERAGE: [Watch all highlights from Stars vs. Blue Jackets | Photos from Stars' first win over Columbus since 2015]
"He's just a very intelligent hockey player," Stars coach Rick Bowness said. "When you have the hockey sense that he has, you play longer and you can produce a lot longer, as well."
Pavelski is a big fan of fitness and diet, and that helps, but he really is defying expectations. The San Jose Sharks allowed him to test free agency, because he wanted a longer-term deal. The Stars signed him in 2019 to a three-year contract that averages $7 million a season, because they felt he could be a big help in the team's desire to win now.
Pavelski started slow last season, but then came on strong in the playoffs. He's picking right up where he left off this year.

"Obviously, I feel good right now," Pavelski said. "Games are coming fast and you're just trying to stay fresh, trying to keep your energy levels up. It's been good - I've found myself with the puck and some confidence, and it's been going in."
As for his expectations with his new team, he said that has been consistent. Pavelski was good for 60 to 70 points every season in San Jose, and while he dipped to 31 in 67 games for Dallas last season, it was just a hiccup.
"It didn't change for me. I expected to produce the same way I always have," he said. "One of the reasons I signed here is great structure, a big commitment to the D side, that's something I really respect from these guys. Then, I also wanted to sign here to play with guys like Tyler (Seguin). Sego and Chubbs (Jamie Benn) and Miro (Heiskanen) and Klinger (John Klingberg), there's a good core group here, and there's good depth and that's something that attracted me."
Ironically, Seguin is out until April following offseason hip surgery and Benn missed four of the first seven games with an injury. That makes Pavelski and his points all the more important.
"He's got a tremendous feel for the game," Bowness said. "Sometimes, the hands leave you or the legs leave you, but he certainly has the hands and the hockey sense and the feel for the game. I'm happy he's had such a great start, because we need the offense."

The Stars are off to a 5-1-1 start and are second in the NHL in goals per game at 4.14. Pavelski has had a hand in helping John Klingberg off to a scorching start (two goals and eight assists for 10 points in seven games), and also has connected with Alexander Radulov (three goals and five assists for eight points in seven games) and Benn (two goals and three assists for five points in three games).
Of course, all three have had a hand in helping Pavelski, as well.

Pavelski tipped in two perfect shots from Klingberg for the two goals and then set up Benn and Radulov for the two assists. The Radulov goal was an empty-netter, and Pavelski had a chance for the hat trick. Instead, he fed Radulov to help his goal totals.
"You look at that play Joe made at the end to give Rads the puck," Bowness said. "He had two goals, he could have had the hat trick, but he passed it. So you're looking at the goals he's scoring and the points he's getting, but you better put just as much emphasis on the leadership and playing the right way."
That has always been a mantra for Pavelski, and maybe one of the reasons he's doing so well at age 36. Of course, that's not old, but other players have seen their games start to decline at that age -- and not improve.

"Thirty-six years old and still that good, that says something," said Klingberg, who said Pavelski's time in San Jose with Joe Thornton, 41, and Patrick Marleau, 41, might have helped.
"I think that's something you take great pride in, and you play with those guys and you pick their brains and see what they've done throughout their careers. I'm happy to have him as a teammate. He's a great leader, he's got a lot of confidence right now, but I feel like he's the same every day. He comes to the rink and he's a true professional, he treats the practices and the games the same. He's a guy who comes to the rink and has a lot of fun all of the time."
Games like Tuesday's help make that attitude a little easier. The Stars were coming off a couple of tough games in Carolina that started a four-game road trip 0-1-1. They wanted to get a road win, and having a guy like Pavelski helped create the atmosphere where a fast start was possible.
"Sometimes, you can't really put your finger on one thing. You play the way we did the other night and it wasn't one guy, it was everybody," Pavelski said of a game in which the team mustered only 11 shots on goal. "At the end of the day, when you take a beating like that ... whether it's the body or not, a lot of it comes from the mind. I think the mindset was a lot better for us. We wanted to go earn a road win. That was the first one of the season so far, so it was great to see guys step up and compete and do it the `right way.' "
Which seems to be the same no matter what age you are.

Up next

at Columbus, 6 p.m. CT Thursday
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.