Veteran forward Joe Pavelski announced his retirement on Tuesday, bringing an end to his NHL career. Pavelski had been a staple of the league for years, spending most of his career with the San Jose Sharks before joining the Dallas Starts starting with the 2019-20 season.Throughout his 18 seasons in the league, Pavelski played in a whopping 1,332 games, putting him in 60th place for games played.On the heels of a disappointing postseason that saw him tally just four points in 19 games, Pavelski announced his retirement this week on SiriusXM's NHL Network Radio. Many NHL fans were heartbroken by the news, partly because Pavelski will be retiring without a Stanley Cup win on his resume.After the NHL broke the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, fans were quick to weigh in. The news saddened many. However, others believed that his retirement was overdue."Worst day ever," a fan wrote."Good riddance," another fan added.Many paid tribute to Joe Pavelski's career:"One of the most likeable players in the league. Great career," a fan wrote."Pavelski's a class act, played the game with heart and grit. Can't blame him for hanging up his skates after all those years of banging bodies and scoring goals. He earned every minute on that ice," another added.Others took the opposite stance:"Don’t let the door hit you on the way out," one wrote."While watching the playoffs I thought he retired in April," another added.During his career, Pavelski also notably won an Olympic silver medal while representing Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In addition, he was also named to four NHL All-Star teams, earning him consideration as one of the best players in US hockey history.Looking at Joe Pavelski's retirement hint after Dallas Stars' elimination from the Stanley Cup PlayoffsWhile Joe Pavelski formally announced his retirement during an appearance on SiriusXM's NHL Network Radio on Tuesday, the longtime vet had previously made it clear that he was likely to retire.The 2023-24 season had seen the Stars win the Central Division, posting a 52-21-9 record that saw the 40-year-old tally 67 points in 82 games. While his numbers during the regular season were on par with his numbers from years past, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Pavelski struggled to maintain his efficiency.Over 19 games, he logged just four points, and he and the Stars made it all the way to the Western Conference Final. There, the team was defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in a six-game series, bringing an end to their Stanley Cup aspirations.After the loss, Pavelski spoke to media members to discuss his future, explaining that while nothing was official, he wasn't planning to be back on the ice for the 2024-25 season.While he hadn't seen a significant drop in efficiency until reaching the 2023-24 playoffs, Joe Pavelski had seen the end of the road. Although it's unclear what the next chapter will hold for him, many fans seem to be hopeful that he will remain active in the NHL community.In addition, given that he is considered to be one of the best players in US history, some fans are hopeful that he will join the US Hockey program in a coaching or developmental role.