The Sharks are approaching an uncertain offseason, but Joe Pavelski gave Sharks fans reason to exhale Tuesday.
Pavelski, who will be one of the Sharks' seven free agents this summer, is confident he will return to San Jose.
"I am still optimistic, we have had a little bit of talks, so hopefully things keep moving forward and we go from there," Pavelski said on a conference call for the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, via The Mercury News. "Things can change in hurry. The discussions are kind of going on right now and we'll see how they work out. But definitely optimistic. Definitely love it there and we'll see where it goes."
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Pavelski, 34, led the Sharks with 38 goals this past season. The captain dealt with a number of injuries over the final two months of the season, including aggravating a knee injury during the Western Conference final against the St. Louis Blues.
Pavelski also suffered a head injury in the first round against the Vegas Golden Knights and had to have surgery on his finger before playing in the second round against the Colorado Avalanche.
"The head's feeling good, the knee is coming around and the finger has been a bit of a hiccup," Pavelski said. "Had a little bit of a surgery there after the first round. The movement's almost back. Kind of delayed a few things."
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San Jose Sharks
Pavelski isn't the only big name the Sharks could lose this offseason, either.
Defenseman Erik Karlsson also is set to become a free agent and a recent report claims the 29-year-old hopes to receive contract offers from the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens, so he and his wife can move back to Canada.
Free agents can start to speak with teams other than their own on June 23, and the NHL's free agency period begins June 26.