Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns made the playoffs seven times as teammates in San Jose, reaching the conference finals and reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 under coach Peter DeBoer. Zach Parise captained New Jersey to the finals in 2012.
All of these conceded goals ended in defeat.
Pavelski and Ryan Suter are teammates again playing in DeBoer, now in Dallas, while Parise is now playing in rival Colorado after spending several years with Suter in Minnesota. Barnes has become Carolina's No. 1 defenseman.
They are among the oldest and most experienced veterans in this year's NHL playoffs, but have never hoisted a Stanley Cup, and as they approach retirement, they will join the likes of Ray Burke and Lanny McDonald in winning a championship. This is the group we want to attract.
Joe Pavelski
Pavelski has played in more than 1,500 regular season and playoff games with the Sharks and Stars since making his league debut in 2006. He was the postseason leading scorer eight years ago and was tied for the most games played in the 2020 playoff bubble. He is one of the most respected forwards of his generation.
“Joe, he's the ultimate professional,” Dallas general manager Jim Nill said. He's done that throughout his career. ”
The Wisconsin native has struggled with injuries down the stretch, including suffering a concussion in his first-round opener last year. This may or may not be his last chance at a cup game, as he turns 40 in July and becomes a free agent again.
“You still want it and you still want the opportunity,” Pavelski said. “And we have a great opportunity here and the players are playing well. They understand this is a great opportunity.”
Ryan Suiter
No active player in this league has played more games without a win than Suter, a reliable defenseman in Nashville, then Minnesota, and now Dallas. His 40th birthday is in January. Unlike Pavelski, he is under contract through next season.
Perhaps the difference between Suter, who averages about 19 minutes per game, is DeBoer, who is aiming to take the No. 3 organization to the finals and win its first championship. Young teammates like Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell will lead the blue line, and adding trade deadline pickup Chris Tanev will allow Suter to be at his best when the situation arises. Not a bad thing to do.
“Chris Tanev is a great defenseman, and that allowed Suter to play more effectively in less time,” said Ray Ferraro, a former player turned ESPN analyst.
zach paris
Parise, a latecomer to the category after signing with the Avalanche in late January just before the All-Star break, boasted a long career that included an Olympic silver medal in 2010, and could have left after missing more than half a season. .
Instead, Parise rejoins MVP front-runner Nathan MacKinnon and Norris Trophy candidate Cale Makar to join a potential contender for the series' second championship in three years. Parise, 39, understands what a challenge it is 12 years after reaching the Finals with the Devils.
“I've become more aware of how difficult it is,” said Parise, who will celebrate her birthday in July. “I always look back on my first few years in Jersey, and I think we made it to the second round three years in a row. I was like, 'Okay, that's the natural progression, I'm going to go to the third round.' Then all of a sudden you get bounced a few times in the first round. you just don't know. it's difficult. “
brent burns
At 6 feet 5 inches tall and 230 pounds, Barnes, sporting a huge beard, is a cannonball and remains a dominant force. He turned 39 last month and is in his second season with the Hurricanes, who were swept by Florida in last year's East Finals.
This may be the best chance for a title since 2016 in San Jose, especially since Carolina acquired Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov at the trade deadline to fill needs up front. Barnes provides firepower from behind, averaging nearly 22 minutes per game.
“He knows he can't kick any better,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, who won the Cup in his 16th season as captain of the Hurricanes in 2006. Thank you very much. I have some time. ”
Mark Giordano
The Toronto Maple Leafs have almost every player on the team who has not won a Cup. The oldest is Mark Giordano, who turns 41 in October and is almost certain to be playing his final season.
Giordano won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in the 2018-19 season near the end of his time in Calgary. He was the first (and still only) captain in the history of Seattle's young franchise, and like Pavelski, is a staunch competitor who commands great respect within the league.
___
AP Sports Writers Stephen Hawkins in Frisco, Texas, Pat Graham in Denver and Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed.
