Dallas Stars Free Agency: Joe Pavelski Visits Stars’ Practice Facility

The Dallas Stars hosted the third day of their 2019 Development Camp session on Wednesday at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. But it wasn’t the only thing they hosted as free agent forward Joe Pavelski was also in the building.

We’re currently in the midst of one of the most exciting weeks on the NHL calendar, and with that comes plenty of speculation, talk, and rumors. And, as they have done in years past, the Dallas Stars have found their way into the middle of it all.

A year ago, the Stars were among the final teams in the running to land highly-coveted free agent John Tavares. The forward had met with the Stars, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the New York Islanders during the UFA Interview Period before eventually choosing the Maple Leafs as his new home on July 1. One week later, they were rumored to be the frontrunner to land defenseman Erik Karlsson in a trade.

Needless to say, Stars GM Jim Nill is always keeping his ears open and doing his homework. If there’s a big name on the market and he can see a feasible path in getting them to Dallas (whether it’s through free agency or trade), he will usually do everything he can to at least meet with or interview the player.

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And on Wednesday afternoon, another big name on the free agent market was seen walking around the Dallas Stars’ offices and practice facility in Frisco.

It was reported by Pierre Lebrun of The Athletic on Wednesday evening that San Jose Sharks captain and UFA forward Joe Pavelski was at the Comerica Center and visited with the Dallas Stars management earlier in the day.

Pavelski, 34, is approaching unrestricted free agency for the first time in his NHL career and very well may be one of the top forward names on the market. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and has been in San Jose for the past 13 seasons.

With Pavelski playing out the last season of a five-year, $30 million extension in 2018-19 and the Sharks tying up $11.5 million of their cap in defenseman Erik Karlsson this summer, San Jose has run into a problem. It now looks as though there may not be room for Pavelski to sign what should be the last contract of his NHL career with the only NHL team he’s known.

But the value is still absolutely there. Pavelski scored 38 goals and posted 64 points in 75 regular season games during the 2018-19 season and tacked on four goals and nine points in 13 playoff games. The captain has hovered between 22-41 goals and 64-79 points in each of the past six seasons and has been a staple in the Sharks’ top six for the majority of his career.

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And for a Stars team that finished tied for 28th in goals scored during the 2018-19 season, Pavelski could be a perfect fit. He’s turned in terrific numbers in the face-off dot (finishing above 52.3 percent in each of the past six seasons), has a terrific shot and loves to use it, can play any position on offense, and is a smart player that can play solid minutes. To bring him into the top-six could potentially revitalize the Dallas offense and help round out the top half of the offense, especially if pending UFA Mats Zuccarello walks and signs with another team.

Now, this isn’t a guaranteed signing just yet. Pavelski is rumored to have a handful of other teams that he could meet with, including the Tampa Bay Lightning.

But for a 35-year-old looking for the final contract of his NHL career, a chance to win his first Stanley Cup (considering the Sharks have come close but never won), and a good city for his family to reside in long-term, the Stars could be an ultimately intriguing option.

Could the Dallas Stars work out a contract with the American-born center? Could he solve their offensive problems? Will other teams provide better offers? Or could he even simply return to the Sharks if they can put their differences in negotiations to rest?

We’ll find out more over the next few days.