The recently-retired 18-season NHL veteran was likely in Pittsburgh for his son’s USHL tournament.
Former San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars leader Joe Pavelski made one of his first hockey-related appearances since the end of his NHL playing career during Penguins training camp on Friday.
Pavelski was spotted at Friday’s morning skate speaking with president of hockey ops Kyle Dubas and assistant general manager Jason Spezza, per SN Pittsburgh play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff.
Spezza and Pavelski just barely missed each other as players in Dallas. Spezza signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs just before the 2019-20 season, which was when Pavelski inked a deal with the Stars.
Joe Pavelski is at @penguins Training Camp today, taking in the morning skate with Kyle Dubas and AGM Jason Spezza
— Josh Getzoff (@JG_PxP) September 20, 2024
Pavelski’s 13-year-old son and forward prospect Nate Pavelski is listed on the roster for the 14U Madison Capitals, one of the teams competing this weekend at the 2024 USHL Fall Classic. The tournament is taking place from Sept. 18-22 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Pavelski announced his retirement from pro hockey in July after five seasons with the Stars and 13 with the Sharks. He played a key role in San Jose’s trip to battle the Penguins in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
He retired as one of the most accomplished American players of all time, ranking fifth among U.S.-born players with 476 career regular-season goals and first with 74 playoff goals, while winning a silver medal with Team USA at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Pavelski’s former Stars teammates started pitching Pavelski as a potential candidate for a front-office role immediately after the end of Dallas’ 2023-24 season, per ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark.
“I think he could probably pick whatever he wants [with his future] whether that’s GM, front office management, coaching. He’s a smart cat. He loves the game of hockey and knows a lot about it. I think the options are endless for him with whatever he decides to do.” — Stars captain Jamie Benn
“There should be 32 teams trying to get someone like him to be working with them. It sure would be great if Dallas would be one. I can see him doing so many different roles in the front office.” — Stars center Wyatt Johnston
The USHL tournament may have been what brought Pavelski to Pittsburgh. But his former teammates’ emphasis on the possibility of him joining an NHL front office, as well as his connection to current Penguins senior advisor of hockey ops and former Sharks AGM Doug Wilson, raise the possibility he could be considered as a candidate to begin the next stage of his career in Pittsburgh.