Joe Pavelski gives brief update on contract talks; Jeremy Roenick chimes in on what Sharks should do

With less than a month to go before the start of NHL free agency, Joe Pavelski on Tuesday said he remains confident he and the Sharks can reach an agreement on a new contract.

“I am still optimistic, we have had a little bit of talks, so hopefully things keep moving forward and go from there,” Pavelski said. “Things can change in a 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.”

Pavelski, on a conference call to promote the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament this summer at Lake Tahoe, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 as he finishes the five-year, $30 million contract he signed in July 2013. He led the Sharks with 38 goals this past season, and just completed his fourth season as the team’s captain.

Pavelski said May 23, two days after the Sharks were eliminated by the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Final, that he strongly believed he would be back in San Jose the following season. At that point, there had been little dialogue between Pavelski and the Sharks about a new deal.

Pavelski has spent all 13 years of his professional career with the Sharks organization, and has 761 points in 963 regular season NHL games.

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“That should be (the Sharks’) number one priority, is signing Joe Pavelski,” said Jeremy Roenick, an NHL analyst for NBC, who was also on the call with Pavelski, Charles Barkley and Dell Curry. “He’s their captain and he’s their heart and soul, and I think (general manager) Doug Wilson knows that. That’s the number one priority.”

Pavelski, 34, dealt with myriad injuries over the past two months, including a knee injury that was re-aggravated after he took a hit from Alex Pietrangelo in Game 5 of the series with the Blues. He also suffered a head injury in Game 7 of the Sharks’ first round series with Vegas. Before he was able to rejoin the Sharks for Game 7 of their second round series with Colorado, Pavelski had surgery on his finger.

Pavelski finished the playoffs with four goals and five assists in 13 games, and had one goal and two assists in five games against St. Louis.

The American Century Championship takes place July 9-14 at Edgewood Tahoe South. Last season, Pavelski finished tied for third behind winner Tony Romo and runner-up Mark Mulder.

“The head’s feeling good, the knee is coming around and the finger has been a little 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. I played my first round (of golf) the other day, and we’ll go from there.

“Try to get the short game going and start to hit the ball a little bit farther again.”

Pavelski is one of seven San Jose players that can enter unrestricted free agency this summer, and as of now, the Sharks have a little over $58 million tied up in 15 contracts for next season.

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Earlier Tuesday, the Ottawa Sun reported that according to a source, Erik Karlsson, another one of the Sharks’ free agents, is hoping the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens will put forth competitive offers to sign the two-time Norris Trophy winner. The reason, according to the Sun, is that Karlsson’s wife, Melinda, an Ottawa native, is feeling “homesick” and would like to once again live close to family.

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Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win Whether the Sharks sign Karlsson, who will arguably become the NHL’s most sought-after free agent this summer, may determine what kind of offer they can put forth to Pavelski.

Karlsson, 29, may wind up as one of the league’s highest-paid defenseman next season, if not the highest paid. As of now, Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty is set to be the highest-paid blueliner with an eight-year, $88 million contract extension beginning in the fall.

On June 23, unrestricted free agents can begin to speak and meet with other teams other than their own. Three days later, on June 26, the NHL’s restricted free agent contact period will open.

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