With the 205th pick of the 2003 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks selected Joe Pavelski, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward from Waterloo of the United States Hockey League. Joe Pavelski, a player who was not expected to make it in the NHL, has defied the odds time and time again with his skill, heart, and determination.
Pavelski’s impact on his team was evident through the emotional reactions from his teammates after he announced that he may not be returning following the Dallas Stars’ elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Wyatt Johnston, who had lived with Pavelski, expressed his deep gratitude for what he and his family had done for him. Captain Jamie Benn described Pavelski as an outstanding leader, teammate, and friend. Forward Tyler Seguin requested that reporters not ask any questions about Pavelski as it was difficult for him to talk about it.
Out of all the skaters selected in the 2003 draft, only about half have played in the NHL. Pavelski, a seventh-round pick, leads the draft class in goals and points in both regular season and playoffs throughout his career from rookie season in 2006-07 to 2023-24. He ranks highly in both regular season and playoff goals and points across seasons.
Pavelski also made a significant impact on his national team, helping them secure a silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. In NHL history, he ranks high in playoff goals and has impressive stats in regular season and playoffs. Pavelski is cherished by his peers and fans alike for his contributions on and off the ice throughout his career.
