Doug Wilson, the former general manager of the San Jose Sharks, expressed regret over the decision to let forward Joe Pavelski walk in free agency in 2019. “We should have found a way to get it done,” Wilson told Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. “It was a mistake.”
After leaving San Jose, the now-retired Pavelski continued to perform as a top-six forward for five seasons. At the time of his departure, Pavelski was 34 years old and had just finished a season where he scored 38 goals and recorded 64 points. He had spent his entire 13-season career with the Sharks before his exit.
In 2019, the Sharks opted to sign defenseman Erik Karlsson to a significant contract, which left them with limited salary cap space to retain Pavelski. Consequently, he entered free agency and signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Stars, carrying a $7-million cap hit—$1 million more than his previous contract.
“Sometimes, you can overanalyze things,” Wilson, now serving as a senior advisor with the Pittsburgh Penguins, reflected. “But I, as a GM, with my love for (Pavelski) and realizing how special he was, I look back, I probably should have dismissed historical analysis of contracts for players that age and said, ‘Screw it.'”
Pavelski continued with the Stars for the remainder of his career, with his standout performance coming in the 2021-22 season, where he scored 27 goals and achieved 81 points.
Wilson praised Pavelski’s exceptional skill set and intelligence, which contributed to his longevity in the league. “What he used to do in front of the net, with his ability to deflect pucks and get the proper positioning, was a combination of guts, and courage, and fortitude, but also brilliance with knowing how to separate and get away and the timing of things,” Wilson noted. “He thought the game at such a high level, coupled with the willingness to go to those areas.”
Following Pavelski’s retirement announcement, Wilson conveyed his appreciation, stating, “I said, ‘I tip my hat to you and am so amazed by everything you’ve accomplished.’ It’s not surprising. I wish, in hindsight, we would have kept him.”
