from Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News,

Joe Pavelski will be playing in the NHL next season. Whether he’s back with the Sharks is another matter.

“Am I concerned? I don’t know. I know I’m going to be playing hockey next year. Hopefully it’s going to be here,” Pavelski said Thursday. “We love it here. I think something will happen, who really knows, but coming off a lot of emotions coming through the playoffs and that round, we’ll sit down and take a look at what will happen here. We’re going to be alright, I think, regardless.”

Pavelski is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on 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 year, and just completed his fourth season as the team’s captain.

But he’ll also turn 35 in July, and if Patrick Marleau — Mr. Shark — can sign with another team via free agency, just about any player who has worn nothing but teal throughout his NHL career can, or so it seems.

Whether to reach an agreement with Pavelski on dollar — and particularly term — figures to be one of Sharks general manager Doug Wilson’s biggest decisions this offseason, and there are a few.

continued