Joseph James Pavelski wasn’t supposed to become an international superhero of hockey. As the 207th pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, he might have been able to count himself lucky to make the show at all.
But he’s called true believers to his side from the beginning, and he’s exceeded expectations even as they’ve grown exponentially. The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf devoted his latest article to the ongoing saga of the man they call Captain America, starting with his origin story as a fresh-faced San Jose Sharks prospect:
In Pavelski’s first development camp with the Sharks, coaches pulled [head athletic trainer Ray] Tufts aside and told him to keep an eye on Pavelski.