"It's been awesome," Pavelski said Friday at Stanley Cup Media Day. "There's tons of experience, we've competed against each other for a long time. It's fun to be on the same side.
"For me, it was one of those moments where if I was going to be leaving the San Jose Sharks]*
The forwards signed each as an unrestricted free agent with the Stars on July 1, 2019. Pavelski signed a three-year, $21 million contract ($7 million average annual value) after 13 seasons with the Sharks. Perry signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract; he had the final two seasons of the eight-year contract he signed March 18, 2013, bought out by the Anaheim Ducks on June 19. Perry played 14 seasons in Anaheim.
Perry, 35, won the Cup with the Ducks in 2007, his second NHL season. Pavelski, 36, reached the Final with the Sharks in 2016 and lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
They have played a combined 294 NHL postseason games (Pavelski 155, Perry 139).
"There's lots of battles that we've gone through; regular season, playoffs, whatever it may be, internationally," Perry said. "There's been a lot of hockey played between us. It's nice to be sitting here beside him right now doing this.
"I'm just happy we have this opportunity to keep playing and being here and have a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. That was our goal from 12 months ago and it's still our goal today."
Dallas, the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, reached the Final for the first time since 2000 when it defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the conference final. Pavelski, who was Sharks captain the previous four seasons, has scored 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 21 games this postseason. Perry, a six-time 30-goal scorer with the Ducks, has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in 21 games.
"When you start to build a team and you sit down on July 1 and you want to add some pieces and all of a sudden names like Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry pop up, right away you know the success they have," Stars general manager Jim Nill said. "To be able to add those type of players to a dressing room, and it's not only on the ice, we know they've had great success, but it's off the ice. It's what they bring. They encompass the whole package you want.
"They've had success where they've been. They still are driven to be even better. … They've taught me things. I think they've probably taught the coaching staff things. They're winners, and there's a reason you want those players on your team. I'm so happy for those guys. They've come together and really jelled this team and pulled us through a lot of this."
