Stars praise Pavelski for his positive influence and leadership

Joe Pavelski brings both remarkably intangible and tangible benefits to the lineup.
The veteran Stars forward is third on the team in scoring with 77 points (28 goals, 49 assists) in 82 games, he leads the NHL in plus-minus at plus-42, and he has been a positive influence to every player on the team. At age 38, Pavelski is both experienced and talented, and that adds up to a significant impact if he returns for Game 6 on Friday against the Minnesota Wild.

"He's such a great leader, a great team guy, a great glue guy, really," said linemate Jason Robertson. "He definitely keeps us all together both on the ice and off. So having that would be an instant boost for all of us."
Pavelski was knocked out of Game 1 on a hit by Matt Dumba and has been in concussion protocol since. He has been skating with the team for the past few days, and coach Pete DeBoer said Pavelski is a game-time decision for Friday.
"He's getting better every day," DeBoer said on Wednesday.
When asked if Pavelski would travel on Thursday, DeBoer said, "I think he's planning on traveling. I would call him a game-time decision right now."
Pavelski has dealt with concussions before. He was knocked out of the playoff for six games in 2019 and then came back and helped San Jose to the Stanley Cup Final that season. DeBoer was the coach of that team.
"Joe has had a head injury before and so he knows, and he's a smart guy," DeBoer said. "I mean, he's not going to put himself in a situation where he's going to be in jeopardy and that's the last thing we want, so we want to make sure he's in a good place before he comes back."
The past few days have Pavelski looking pretty good. The team typically doesn't allow injured players to speak to the media, so Pavelski hasn't been able to comment on his status, but teammates say he has been in good spirits. That's important for the vibe in the dressing room.
"He adds whether he's playing or not playing, just being around our group," DeBoer said. "He's such a presence and he has such a good feel for what needs to be said or not said. Obviously, if he's in the lineup, he's a game changer in a lot of different areas for us."
Pavelski signed a three-year free agent deal with Dallas in 2019 after San Jose decided to not make him an offer. A veteran of 1,250 regular season games and 169 more in the playoffs, he was expected to be a solid leader. However, he also became a catalyst for the top line and has had three of the best scoring seasons of his 17-year career while here.
The top line of Pavelski with Roope Hintz and Robertson is among the best in the league, and Pavelski is a big reason why.
"Whenever you play with someone for two years straight, you definitely build chemistry," Robertson said. "I think with both Joe and Roope, we've got something going and that's pretty special. Joe uses his brain really well on the ice, and you learn from that. To play as many years as he has, he's seen it all and that definitely helps his longevity."
Pavelski's intelligence has been a key point in making the Stars a smart team. Not only has Robertson learned from his mentor, but Wyatt Johnston has been shepherded through his rookie season while living with the Pavelski family.
"He's obviously a really smart player and brings a ton on the ice," Johnston said. "He has such a great history in the playoffs, and I think that's key. He has been in so many playoff situations, and he can definitely help us there, both offensively and defensively."
DeBoer said he expects the impact of Pavelski on the young players will be even greater as their careers progress. He said like a child learning from a parent, the realization often comes years later.
"I think those guys are going to look back later in their careers and realize it," DeBoer said. "It's a little like a parent thing. You don't have a lot of appreciation in the moment, but I really think they'll look back and realize how fortunate they were to have learned around that guy for a few years."
Right now, they would just love to get him back on the ice and in the dressing room.
"Just having him in here will be great," Johnston said. "He makes a huge impact on all of us."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika