With Joe Pavelski’s NHL career likely coming to a close, the Stars will have some big questions to resolve next season.
But one of the most pressing is where Wyatt Johnston will live.
Pavelski and his wife Sarah have housed Johnston during the first two years of his NHL career. After taking Johnston in as a 19-year-old rookie, the Pavelskis allowed him to return for his sophomore season, which Stars coach Pete DeBoer said was key in Johnston having such a strong year.
They also took in Logan Stankoven once he was called up from the AHL mid-season.
“I can’t thank him, his wife Sarah and his son, Nate, enough,” Johnston said Tuesday. “There’s just so much that I’ve learned from him. I can’t thank him and his family enough for what they’ve done for me. It’s not just me that he’s had a huge impact on. It’s everyone. It’s the whole organization. He was awesome to play with in the last two years and having a chance to live with him was amazing.”
Pavelski said he and his family will be moving back to Wisconsin where he is originally from, meaning his home will no longer be an option. Johnston said he hasn’t yet figured out where he will live in the fall.
“Maybe one of the other boys will let me stay with them,” he joked. “We’ll see. Got a summer to think about it.”
In April, Johnston’s mother Margot Fulcher spoke with The Dallas Morning News about watching her son live out his NHL dream. She said he gave a lot of thought to his decision on where to live this past season.
“He was advised that that would probably be a smart move for him,” she said. “I’m sure there’s always a bit of do I lose respect somehow? But I think he was given some sage advice, and he listened, and it paid off.”
Pavelski is now also counting on Johnston to find a place of his own, as the veteran forward said he hopes to return to Dallas to visit and will need the young players to return the favor.
“I’ll be visiting,” Pavelski said. “I’ll be staying with them hopefully.”
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