"The passion and just the joy of playing the game for me [was the best part]," said Bourque, unsuccessfully fighting back tears. "For me, that was easy to bring to the rink everyday, and that's what I told [the guys] before I left."

Fittingly, the final image of Bourque as a player will be of him taking the Stanley Cup from Colorado captain Joe Sakic, tears streaming down Bourque's face as he held the trophy aloft while teammates and a delirious Pepsi Center crowd basked in his achievement.

"It means you retire a champion," said Bourque when asked about winning the last playoff game of his career. "For me, that is a pretty neat thing to say. To me, it took a long time, but the timing was perfect."

The leading scorer as a defenseman in NHL history with 410 goals and 1,579 points, Bourque had appeared in more regular-season and playoff games (1,826) than anyone in NHL history without capturing a championship before the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup.

"What a way to end a career," Colorado defenseman Rob Blake said in the wild aftermath of Game 7.

"It would have been a shame if Ray had left the game without a Stanley Cup," injured center Peter Forsberg said.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said of Bourque in a statement Tuesday afternoon, "I join the thousands of players who played with him -- and against him -- and the millions of fans he entertained around the world in wishing Ray Bourque only the best in the years to come. A career dedicated to the pursuit of excellence on and off the ice has culminated in a Stanley Cup championship and the accomplishment of his ultimate mission. I congratulate Ray for his dedication and craftsmanship and for the distinction he brought himself and our great game over 22 superb seasons."

The primary reason behind his decision, according to Bourque, was to spend more time with his family. His family -- wife Christiane, sons Christopher and Ryan and daughter Melissa -- remained in Boston after his trade to Colorado.

Now, with nothing left to accomplish in his career, Bourque wants to spend more time with his family. "By far, the most important factor [in my decision] is to be around my family and my children," said Bourque. "For now, I'm going to enjoy my time with the family and enjoy the summer."

But, there is little doubt that Bourque can still play the game if he wanted to. He played nearly half of Game 7 of the Finals -- that after 20 demanding games in less than a month -- and was still dominating the action. His goal in Game 3 -- purportedly called by Bourque during the second intermission -- was the first of many turning points in the series.

After it was all over, teammates and opponents alike credited Bourque with playing a huge role in leading Colorado to the promised land. His timely offense, gritty leadership, tireless work ethic and calm under fire were all pointed to as helping the Avs over the top.

In fact, Colorado was so enamored with Bourque's contributions over the last 15 months that GM Pierre Lacroix announced Tuesday that the club will retire his No. 77 in the fall, the first number so honored in franchise history.

With Tuesday's announcement, Bourque closed the curtain on a brilliant run of more than two decades in the National Hockey League.

In his first season, 1979-80 with Boston, Bourque earned the Calder Trophy as the game's best rookie player. The awards came regularly after that. He earned the first of five Norris trophies in 1987. He has also been named to the NHL's First All-Star Team 12 times, and named to play in the All-Star Game 20 times.

He earned the first of five Norris trophies in 1987. He has also been named to the NHL's First All-Star Team 12 times, and named to play in the All-Star Game 20 times.

But, the most elusive prize -- the Stanley Cup -- eluded his grasp until this June. Fifteen months earlier, he gave his blessing to the trade that severed his 21-season tie with the Bruins in one last gasp to capture the Cup.

He landed in Colorado, but found bitterness last May when the Avalanche fell to Dallas in a bitter Game 7 defeat. He returned for another crack at the game's most cherished trophy this season.

And, as usual, he gave the quest his all. In 80 regular-season games, he had seven goals and 52 assists. He finished as runner-up for the Norris Trophy for that performance.

In the playoffs, he was even better, notching four goals and six assists in 21 games to finish as the third-highest scoring defenseman in the postseason.

"I think it was a great story how everything came together in the end," said Bourque. I just thought it was a special story for hockey."

So, too, was Tuesday afternoon in Denver, as one of the game's greatest players left the game still at his peak and on his own terms.