Vincent Lecavalier’s Hall of Fame-caliber career ended with the Kings’ loss Friday to the San Jose Sharks in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. He said he planned to retire at season’s end, no matter the outcome, after the Kings acquired him Jan. 6 from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Lecavalier didn’t wish to talk immediately after Game 5, but he met with reporters Sunday at the Kings’ training facility in El Segundo. He said he plans to stick around for a while before moving back to Tampa, Fla., but he insisted his playing days have come to an end after 421 goals, 528 assists and 1,212 games in the NHL.

“It’s tough to process anything right now,” said Lecavalier, who spent most of his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning a Stanley Cup championship with them in 2003-04. “It’s only been a couple of days here. Honestly, to be able to get a chance to play …”

Lecavalier was not in the Flyers’ plans this season, playing only seven games before he and and Luke Schenn were sent to the Kings for Jordan Weal and a third-round draft pick. Lecavalier played an important role as the Kings’ third-line center and had 10 goals and 17 assists in 42 games.

“I think back in November and talking to Luke and saying, ‘I think I’m going to be stuck here (Philadelphia) and I’m not playing,’ and then getting a chance to play on this team and, obviously, we didn’t go where we wanted to go at the end of it, but to get a chance to play and to have fun and to learn, it’s just a great time,” Lecavalier said. “I always had that confidence that I could still do well. It was great. This is a great team. I know they’re going to win again.”