Sticking at it: Meet the journeymen still chasing a first NHL Championship

Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns made the playoffs seven times together as teammates in San Jose, reaching the conference finals and getting all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 under Peter DeBoer. Zach Parise captained New Jersey to the final in 2012.

All those runs ended in defeat.

Pavelski and Ryan Suter are now teammates playing for DeBoer all over again, this time with Dallas. Parise, after several years alongside Suter in Minnesota, is now with rival Colorado, and Burns is the No 1 defenseman for Carolina.

They are among the oldest and most experienced veterans in the NHL playoffs this year who have never hoisted the Stanley Cup, a group that would love to join the likes of Ray Bourque and Lanny McDonald by winning a championship in the twilight of their careers.

Joe Pavelski

Pavelski has played over 1,500 regular-season and playoff games with the Sharks and Stars combined, since making his debut in the league in 2006.

He was the postseason's leading goal-scorer eight years ago, tied for the most games played in the 2020 playoff bubble, and is one of the most admired forwards of his generation.

"Joe, he's the ultimate pro," Dallas general manager Jim Nill said. "He just does everything right. He's done that his whole career."

Injuries have hampered the Wisconsin native along the way, including a concussion in the first-round opener last year. He turns 40 in July, when he will, again, be a free agent. So, this may or may not be his last shot at the Cup.

"You still want it, and you still want an opportunity," Pavelski said."And we have a great opportunity here, and guys are playing well. They're guys that understand that this is a great chance."