In the 1990’s, a recurring theme for the Rangers was their inability to secure superstar players at opportune moments. This included missed opportunities with Eric Lindros, a thwarted offer sheet for Joe Sakic, and unsuccessful pursuits of players like Brendan Shanahan and, notably, Pavel Bure.
A prolific goal scorer with the Vancouver Canucks, Bure embodied the speed, skill, and puck possession synonymous with Soviet Union hockey programs. His on-ice prowess, marked by exceptional skating speed, agility, and acceleration, earned him the nickname “Russian Rocket.”
This quickness allowed him to outmaneuver defenders, seize pucks in all zones of the ice, and execute numerous end-to-end rushes. In a 1993 poll of NHL coaches, Bure was hailed as the league’s top skater, securing eight out of twenty-one votes—twice as many as any other player.
Recognized as a pure goal scorer, Bure holds a standout position in NHL history in this regard. Achieving the 50-goal milestone five times and reaching 60 goals twice, his impressive .623 goals per game average ranks third among the top 100 goal scorers in NHL history, trailing only Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux. The Rangers were keen on acquiring this superstar after Bure expressed dissatisfaction with the Canucks’ management.
After the 1997–98 season, Bure informed the new general manager, Brian Burke, of his refusal to play for the Canucks despite having a year left on his $8 million contract. Publicly citing “personal reasons,” he did not report to the team for the following season and instead trained in Moscow with his former Central Red Army club.
Despite talks between the Rangers and the Canucks, a deal was not reached. Bure’s absence persisted into the 1998–99 season until he was eventually traded on January 17, 1999, to the Florida Panthers. The trade involved Bret Hedican, Brad Ference, and Vancouver’s third-round choice in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (Robert Fried) in exchange for Ed Jovanovski, Dave Gagner, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes, and Florida’s first-round choice in the 2000 draft (Nathan Smith).
The trade, which appeared to be fueled by a measure of spite on Burke’s part, involved Rangers’ goalie Dan Cloutier, Manny Malhotra, Niklas Sundstrom, a first-round draft choice, and approximately $1.5 million. It is believed the Rangers had offered Cloutier and Sundstrom for Bure. Interestingly, if the Rangers had succeeded in this trade, Wayne Gretzky might have delayed his retirement to play alongside the Russian superstar.
Fast forward to March 18, 2002, when the Rangers finally acquired Bure, along with Florida’s second-round pick in the 2002 draft (Lee Falardeau), in exchange for Igor Ulanov, Filip Novak, the Rangers’ first and second-round choices in the 2002 draft (Petr Tatíček and Rob Globke, respectively), and a fourth-round choice in the 2003 draft.
Bure made a strong impression in his debut for the Rangers on March 19, scoring a goal against the Vancouver Canucks, his former team. He scored 12 goals and 20 points in 12 games after being traded, surpassing his pace with Florida that season. Between the two teams, he finished the season with 34 goals and 69 points.
However, Bure faced challenges, including a knee injury in the 2002–03 preseason and subsequent setbacks. Upon his return to the ice, he made an immediate impact with 14 goals and 21 points in his initial 27 games, notching two goals and an assist in his comeback game.
Unfortunately, a knee-on-knee collision in December led to another setback, prompting another trip on the IR. Following surgery conducted 10 days later, it was disclosed that there was no damage to the ACL, as initially feared. Instead, a tear in the meniscus of his left knee was revealed and successfully repaired. Despite these challenges, Bure made a comeback during that season, participating in 39 games and achieving 19 goals along with 30 points.
Despite surgeries and a comeback attempt, he did not play in the 2003–04 season due to lingering effects. Unprotected in the NHL’s Waiver Draft, Bure went unclaimed. The 2004–05 NHL lockout and ongoing knee issues kept Bure inactive for another season. When the NHL resumed play in the 2005–06 season, he announced his retirement on November 1, 2005, citing complications with chronic knee injuries and a desire to end his playing career at an elite level.
His time as a Ranger was brief but showed flashes of the type of player he was throughout his career. Brief, but productive, Bure was able to stand out as a Blueshirt in a short period.
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