Sharks sign Joe Pavelski to 5-year extension

During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a lot of commentators hypothesized that the San Jose Sharks were under new management. Not a new GM or a new coach, mind you. They felt that this had become "Joe Pavelski's team" rather than Joe Thornton's or Patrick Marleau's. Whether or not that's true is up for debate, but the Sharks are going to keep Pavelski around long enough for everyone to believe that they're Pavelski's club.

The Sharks and Pavelski agreed to terms on an extension lasting five years, the club announced on Tuesday. Financial terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed. The deal will enter into effect on July 1, 2014, the day Pavelski's current four-year, $16 million deal expires. Pavelski will be 30 years old in his first season under that contract.

Pavelski has proven himself a consistent forward on a perennial playoff team. It's also true that he has begun to play more of a role in the team's offense. Before this shortened season, Pavelski had put up four consecutive seasons of at least 20 goals and at least 50 points. In 2011-12, he scored 30 goals for the first time, potting 31. This season, he played in every game and scored 16 goals and 31 points.

It was in the playoffs, however, that people really took notice of Pavelski. He put up four goals and eight assists in the Sharks' 11 playoff games. He was particularly excellent against the Vancouver Canucks. He scored all four of his playoff goals in Game 3 and 4 of that series to put Vancouver's season on ice.