In his first season as captain of the San Jose Sharks in 2015-16, Pavelski helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time.

Joe Pavelski will be Team USA captain for the World Cup of Hockey 2016, CSNBayArea.com reported Wednesday.

Pavelski, 32, was fifth in the NHL with 38 goals and tied for sixth with 78 points. He also led all players with 14 goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and was third with 23 points.

Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise, also a member of Team USA, was the United States captain at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The World Cup will be played at Air Canada Centre in Toronto from Sept. 17-Oct. 1. All games will be televised on ESPN in the United States and Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.

Since 2007-08, Pavelski's 252 goals are third among U.S.-born players, behind the Pittsburgh Penguins' Phil Kessel (262) and Parise (254), and his 535 points are third, behind the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane (663) and Kessel (550).