November 23rd 2024.
Joe Pavelski was thrilled to be back in San Jose to celebrate his former teammate, Joe Thornton, as his No. 19 jersey was raised to the rafters at SAP Center. It was a flood of memories for Pavelski as he flew into San Jose and saw familiar faces. He couldn't help but feel how much he missed the city, the people, and the team. It was a fun and emotional experience for Pavelski.
As he participated in the Sharks' alumni game on Friday, Pavelski couldn't help but wonder if he would ever return to the team in some capacity. The 40-year-old had previously mentioned having conversations with Sharks' general manager, Mike Grier, about a possible return to the lineup. While that didn't happen, the door is still open for Pavelski to come back in some other role in the future. But for now, he's not rushing into anything and is enjoying his post-retirement life.
The Sharks have a few former players in their front office, such as assistant general manager Ryane Clowe, director of goaltending Evgeni Nabokov, and development coaches Patrick Marleau, Tommy Wingels, and Mike Ricci. Pavelski mentioned that if there are any conversations to be had about returning to the Sharks, they will happen. But for now, there are no strings attached, and he's not too worried about it.
Pavelski's last game in the NHL was in June, where his Dallas Stars lost to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final. He officially announced his retirement in July. Since then, he's only skated a few times with the "beer leagues." However, he still follows the Sharks and is impressed with their young players, such as Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini, who have been making an impact on the team.
Reflecting on his time in San Jose, Pavelski credits Marleau and Thornton for helping him become a better player. He recalls being a young kid coming into the locker room and being fortunate enough to play alongside such talented and fun teammates. It was a huge building block for him, and he's grateful for the experience.
Speaking of Marleau, he couldn't be happier for Thornton as his jersey will be retired alongside his in the Shark Tank. They were both taken in the top two picks of the 1997 NHL Draft, with Thornton going to the Boston Bruins and Marleau to the Sharks. However, they became teammates in 2005 when the Sharks traded for Thornton, which was a dream come true for Marleau. He's honored to have his number alongside Thornton's as they both made a significant impact on the Sharks' franchise.
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