"I don't think anyone would be ticked to see him go," Jim Atkins said Saturday as he entered the FleetCenter for what turned out to be Bourque's last game as a Bruin. "If he leaves, it stinks for Boston fans. It's our loss."

Bourque, 39, an 18-time All-Star who has won the Norris Trophy five times as the league's top defenseman, was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night, along with left wing < Dave Andreychuk, for three players, including forward Brian Rolston, and a first-round draft pick.

He has never won the Stanley Cup in his 21-year career -- all of it with the Bruins.

"If he wants a chance at the Cup, more power to him," said Scott MacAskill, eating fast food in the train station downstairs from the FleetCenter. "We should pay for the plane ticket to get him there."

When he was introduced before Saturday's game, fans were still settling into their seats, and the greeting, while warm, was scattered. As the Zamboni cleared the ice between the first and second periods, a passenger held a sign saying "Bourque for Mayor!"

Boston has a long tradition of losing its stars, from Cy Young and Ruth to Clemens and Mo Vaughn. In between were Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, two Bruins Hall of Famers who finished their careers elsewhere.

Red Sox fans cringed as Clemens and Wade Boggs won the World Series with the New York Yankees. Patriots fans saw former quarterback Jim Plunkett win the Super Bowl after leaving for the Oakland Raiders.

Even Doug Flutie, a Boston College and New England Patriots alum, won a few championships after leaving town, albeit in the Canadian Football League.

But no one seems to begrudge Bourque his last chance at a championship.

"I have no qualms. I'm not disgruntled with it," said John Allard Sr., a 10-year season ticket-holder who wore his Bourque jersey to the game for the occasion. "Whatever he wants in life, he deserves. And if that's what he wants good luck to him."