Quietly, late on Thursday afternoon, with a blizzard brewing in the sky, it ended here for Tim Thomas. One of the best goalies in Bruins history, while walking his dogs along a Colorado mountain range, learned via a telephone call from general manager Peter Chiarelli that his playing rights had been traded to the New York Islanders.

“He’s comfortable with it, at peace with himself,’’ said Chiarelli. And, much to his credit, Chiarelli later offered, “We don’t win a Cup without him.’’