Pavel Bure facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pavel Bure
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2012
Bure with the Vancouver Canucks in 1997
Born	(1971-03-31) 31 March 1971 (age 54) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Left
Played for	CSKA Moscow Vancouver Canucks Spartak Moscow EV Landshut Florida Panthers New York Rangers
National team	Soviet Union and  Russia
NHL Draft	113th overall, 1989 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	1987–2003
Medal record Ice hockey Representing  Soviet Union World Championships Gold 1990 Switzerland Bronze 1991 Finland World Junior Championships Gold 1989 United States Silver 1990 Finland Silver 1991 Canada European Junior Championships Gold 1989 USSR Bronze 1988 Czechoslovakia Quebec Esso Cup Gold 1988 Canada Goodwill Games Gold 1990 USA Representing  Russia Winter Olympics Silver 1998 Nagano Bronze 2002 Salt Lake City

Pavel Vladimirovich Bure (born 31 March 1971) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a right wing. People called him "the Russian Rocket" because of his incredible speed.

Bure played for 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, and New York Rangers from 1991 to 2003. Before joining the NHL, he trained in the Soviet Union. He played three seasons with the Central Red Army team.

The Vancouver Canucks picked him 113th overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He started his NHL career in the 1991–92 season. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie. He led the NHL in goal-scoring in 1993–94. He also helped the Canucks reach the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.

After seven seasons, the Canucks traded Bure to the Panthers. There, he won two Rocket Richard Trophies in a row. This award is for the league's top goal-scorer. Bure had many knee injuries during his career. These injuries led to his retirement in 2005. He was a member of the Rangers then, but hadn't played since 2003.

He scored more than a point per game in his NHL career. He had 779 points (437 goals) in 702 NHL games. He is fourth all-time in goals per game. In June 2012, Bure was chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017, an NHL group named him one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players ever.

Pavel Bure also played for his country. He competed for the Soviet Union and Russia. With the Soviet Union, he won two silver medals and one gold at three World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He also won a gold and a silver medal at the 1990 and 1991 World Championships.

After the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Bure played for Russia. He played in two Winter Olympics. He won a silver medal at the 1998 Games in Nagano as team captain. He won a bronze medal at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. After retiring in 2005, Bure became the general manager for Russia's national team. This was for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. In 2012, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) put him in their IIHF Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Hockey Dreams

Pavel Bure was born in Moscow in 1971. His parents were Vladimir and Tatiana Bure. His father, Vladimir Bure, was a famous Russian swimmer. Vladimir wanted Pavel to be a professional swimmer. But Pavel loved hockey from a young age.

When he was six, Pavel tried out for the CSKA Moscow hockey school. He had only played ball hockey on the streets before. He wasn't a great skater at first. His father told him he needed to improve quickly. Pavel worked hard. By age 11, he was named the best forward in his league.

In July 1982, when he was 11, Pavel was chosen for a special TV show. He practiced with Wayne Gretzky and Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak. This was a big deal for a young player. When he was 12, his parents separated. Pavel stayed with his mother. By age 14, he was on the Central Red Army's junior team.

In 1991, Pavel moved to North America with his father and brother, Valeri. He was starting his National Hockey League (NHL) career. His mother joined them two months later. They first lived in Los Angeles. His father continued to train both Pavel and Valeri in hockey.

In December 1986, Pavel toured Canada with the Soviet national youth team. He played his first game at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. This was the same rink where he would later play for the Vancouver Canucks. He also met Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey again in Edmonton.

Starting His Pro Career in Russia

At 16, Bure began his professional hockey career with CSKA Moscow. He joined the senior team's training camp for the 1987–88 season. He was considered too young for the main Soviet League. But he played a few games when other players were absent. He scored his first goal in his very first game in September 1987.

Bure joined the team full-time in 1988–89. He scored 17 goals, a record for rookies in the Soviet League. He also had 9 assists for 26 points. He was named the league's rookie of the year. His team, CSKA Moscow, won their thirteenth straight Soviet championship. They also won their twelfth straight IIHF European Champions Cup in 1989.

Bure played with future NHL stars like Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Mogilny. These three were expected to be the next top Soviet line. But Mogilny left to play for the Buffalo Sabres in 1989. Fedorov joined the Detroit Red Wings the next year.

In his third and final season with the Red Army, Bure scored 46 points. His 35 goals were second in the league. In August 1991, Bure turned down a new contract. Because of this, he was not chosen for the Soviet team for the Canada Cup.

Joining the NHL: The Vancouver Canucks

Before the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, experts thought Pavel Bure was a top player. They compared him to famous Soviet players like Valeri Kharlamov. But NHL teams were worried he wouldn't leave the Soviet Union. This made teams hesitant to pick him early.

The Vancouver Canucks picked Bure 113th overall in the sixth round. This was a surprise because he seemed too young to be drafted that year. Most teams thought he wasn't eligible. But the Canucks' scout, Mike Penny, found out Bure had played extra games. These games made him eligible for the draft a year early. Other teams were upset, but the Canucks' pick was eventually allowed.

Bure left Moscow with his father and brother on September 6, 1991. They stayed in Los Angeles. The Canucks started working on a contract with Bure. First, they had to settle his contract with the Central Red Army. The Canucks paid $250,000 to the Soviet officials. Bure then signed a four-year contract worth $2.7 million. This made him the Canucks' second-highest paid player.

Rookie Season and Awards

Bure's first game with the Canucks was on November 5, 1991. About 2,000 fans came to his first practice. He showed off his amazing speed in his first game. A newspaper writer called him "the fastest Soviet creation since Sputnik." This led to his famous nickname, "the Russian Rocket."

He scored his first two NHL goals on November 12 against the Los Angeles Kings. He finished his rookie season with 34 goals and 60 points in 65 games. He scored 22 goals in his last 23 games.

The Calder Memorial Trophy that Bure won in his rookie season

In the 1992 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bure scored his first NHL hat trick. The Canucks won that series. He finished the playoffs with six goals and 10 points in 13 games. At the end of the season, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie. He was the first Canuck to win a major individual NHL award.

Becoming a Goal-Scoring Star

Bure had an even better season in 1992–93. He scored 60 goals for the first time. In one game, he scored a career-high four goals against the Winnipeg Jets. He also scored two goals while his team was short-handed.

He played in his first NHL All-Star Game in 1993. He scored two goals in that game. He broke the Canucks' record for goals in a season, passing Tony Tanti's 45 goals. He also broke the team record for points. He finished the season with 110 points in 83 games. He was named to the NHL first All-Star team.

In the 1993-94 season, Bure scored 60 goals again. He became only the eighth player in NHL history to score 60 goals in two seasons in a row. He scored 49 goals and 78 points in his final 51 games. He helped carry the Canucks into the playoffs.

The 1994 Stanley Cup Run

The Canucks made a great run in the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They were the seventh seed. In game seven of the first round, Bure scored a famous goal against the Calgary Flames. He got a breakaway pass and scored in double overtime to win the series.

Bure's first game-worn Canucks jersey (centre) on display at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks beat the Dallas Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs. They reached the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Rangers. The Canucks lost in seven games. Bure led his team with 16 goals and 31 points in 24 playoff games. Only Brian Leetch had more points.

After the playoffs, the Canucks re-signed Bure to a five-year, $24.5 million contract. This made him one of the highest-paid players in the league.

Injuries and Challenges

Because of the 1994–95 NHL lockout, Bure played a few games in Russia and Germany. When the NHL season started, he had a contract dispute. He eventually joined the Canucks and scored 43 points in 44 games. The Canucks were swept by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 1995 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

For the 1995–96 season, Bure changed his jersey number from 10 to 96. This was to remember the day he arrived in North America (September 6, 1991).

On November 9, 1995, Bure suffered a serious knee injury. He tore a ligament in his right knee. He needed surgery and missed the rest of the season.

Pavel Bure in 1997 wearing an alternate captain's crest for the Vancouver Canucks. He served as an alternate captain with the team between 1995 and 1998.

Bure returned in the 1996–97 season. He had another injury early in the season. He played with a neck injury, but he didn't want to miss more games. He scored 55 points in 63 games. The Canucks missed the playoffs.

In the 1997–98, Bure switched back to number 10. He had a great season, scoring 51 goals. This was his third time reaching 50 goals. He also had 39 assists for 90 points. He was third in the NHL in points.

After this season, Bure told the Canucks he would not play for them again. He wanted to leave for "personal reasons." He did not report to the team the next season. He went back to Moscow to practice with his old team.

Moving to the Florida Panthers

Bure was traded to the Florida Panthers on January 17, 1999. He played his first game with the Panthers on January 20, 1999. He scored two goals in that game. He quickly scored 11 points in his first six games.

Less than a month later, he hurt his knee again. Despite the injury, the Panthers signed him to a big five-year contract. Another injury ended his season after only 11 games with Florida.

The puck commemorating Bure's 54th goal of the 1999–2000 season, which combined with Valeri Bure's 35 goals to break Bobby and Dennis Hull's mark of 89 goals by a brother combination in a single season.

In 1999–2000, Bure led the league in goal-scoring. He scored 58 goals and won his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. He also had 36 assists for 94 points. This set new team records for the Panthers. He helped Florida make the playoffs. He was named the 2000 NHL All-Star Game MVP.

Bure won the Rocket Richard Trophy again in 2000–01 with 59 goals. This was his fifth and final time reaching 50 goals. He set a league record by scoring 29.5% of his team's total goals that season.

Before the 2001–02 season, his brother Valeri Bure joined the Panthers. But Pavel suffered another injury in the pre-season. He was traded to the New York Rangers during that season. He had 49 points in 56 games for the Panthers.

Short Time with the New York Rangers

The New York Rangers got Bure on March 18, 2002. He made his Rangers debut the next day against his old team, the Vancouver Canucks. He scored a goal against them. He finished the season with 34 goals and 69 points between both teams.

Bure had another knee injury in the 2002–03 pre-season. He missed some games. He played 39 games that season, scoring 19 goals and 30 points. But a collision in December caused another knee injury.

He did not play in 2003–04 because of his knee. He failed a physical exam and was declared unable to play.

Retirement and Hall of Fame

Pavel Bure announced his retirement from hockey on November 1, 2005. He said his knee injuries were too much. He explained he didn't want to play if he couldn't perform at his best.

Since he hadn't played since the 2002–03 season, he was eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame right away. After being passed over for six years, Bure was finally voted in on June 27, 2012. He was the fifth Soviet or Russian player to be inducted. He was also the first player to spend most of his career with the Canucks to enter the Hall of Fame.

The Canucks retired Bure's number 10 jersey on November 2, 2013. The team also renamed their Most Exciting Player Award to the Pavel Bure Most Exciting Player Award in his honor.

Playing for His Country: International Hockey

Junior Success

Before joining the NHL, Bure played for the Soviet Union in many junior tournaments. He won a gold medal at the 1988 Quebec Esso Cup, an under-17 tournament. That same year, he won a bronze medal at the European Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

In 1989, Bure played in his first World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was 17. His line with Alexander Mogilny and Sergei Fedorov helped the Soviet Union win a gold medal. Bure scored eight goals, tying for the tournament lead. He was named the Best Forward. He also won another gold medal at the 1989 European Junior Championship.

Bure won a silver medal at the 1990 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He scored seven goals. Later that year, he played for the senior Soviet national team at the 1990 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He helped the Soviets win a gold medal. He also won gold at the 1990 Goodwill Games.

In 1991, Bure played in his third and final World Junior Championships. He was the top scorer with 12 goals. The Soviets won the silver medal. He finished his junior career with a tournament record of 27 goals. He also played in the 1991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, where the Soviets won a bronze medal. This was the last World Championship for the USSR before it broke up.

Olympic Glory

Bure played his first international tournament for Russia in 1996. He was recovering from knee surgery. He was supposed to play in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, but he got another injury and missed it.

Two years later, Bure made his Olympic debut for Russia at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano. He scored five goals in Russia's semifinal win against Finland. This helped his team reach the gold medal game. Russia lost to the Czech Republic and won a silver medal. Bure scored nine goals, the most in the tournament. He was named the top forward.

Bure at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. He scored nine goals in six games in that tournament.

Bure played in the 2000 IIHF World Championship. Russia finished eleventh. He scored four goals and an assist. Two years later, Bure played in his second Olympics at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. He played with a fractured hand. He scored two goals and an assist. Russia won the bronze medal. This was his last international tournament as a player.

After retiring in 2005, Bure became Russia's Olympic general manager. He chose the team for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Russia did not win a medal. In 2012, Bure was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame.

How Pavel Bure Played

Pavel Bure's playing style was known for speed, skill, and puck control. These were key parts of Soviet hockey programs. His amazing skating speed, quickness, and acceleration earned him the nickname "Russian Rocket." He used his speed to get away from defenders and chase down pucks. He could skate the length of the ice with the puck many times.

In a 1993 poll of NHL coaches, Bure was named the league's best skater. One coach said, "Bure has the best combination of speed, agility and balance." He could also trick defenders and goalies while skating fast. He often started rushes from his own end of the ice.

Early in his career, Bure was also good at playing defense. He adjusted quickly to his team's defensive needs. He was used on the team's penalty kill because of his speed and good positioning. He was also known as one of the smartest players in the NHL.

Bure was a pure goal scorer. He reached the 50-goal mark five times and 60 goals twice. His average of .623 goals per game is third among the top 100 goal scorers in NHL history. Only Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux are higher.

Off the Ice: Pavel's Family Life

Pavel Bure (second from right) along with his brother Valeri Bure (far right) and Russian Olympic Committee President Leonid Tyagachev (second from left), meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin (far left) on November 14, 2001.

Pavel Bure comes from a family of athletes. His father, Vladimir, was an Olympic swimmer. He won four medals for the Soviet Union in the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Olympic Games. Pavel's paternal grandfather, Valeri Bure, was a goalkeeper for the national water polo team.

Pavel's younger brother, Valeri, also played hockey in the NHL for 10 years. The two brothers played together briefly for the Florida Panthers. They also played together at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics.

The Bure family made precious watches for the Russian tsars from 1815 to 1917. Pavel was named after his great-grandfather, a watchmaker for Tsar Alexander III. The family was given noble status for their work. After his first major knee injury, Pavel tried to restart the family watchmaking business.

Bure married Alina Khasanova on October 10, 2009, in Moscow. They had known each other for four years. They have three children: Pavel Jr., born in 2013; Palina, born in 2015; and Anastasia, born in 2018.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (second from left) speaks with Bure (far right) in August 2001.

Pavel Bure has often played ice hockey with Russian president Vladimir Putin. However, he has said he does not have any political goals himself.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

International

^a does not include 1988 Quebec Esso Cup (U17)
^b does not include the 1990 Goodwill Games

Awards

Soviet

International

NHL

Vancouver Canucks

Records

Team

• Vancouver Canucks' single-season record, most points by a rookie – 60 in 1991–92 (tied with Ivan Hlinka, 1981–82 and Elias Pettersson, 2018–19)
• Vancouver Canucks' single-season record, most goals – 60 in 1992–93 and 1993–94
• Vancouver Canucks' all-time playoffs record, most goals – 34 (tied with Trevor Linden)
• Vancouver Canucks' all-time record, most shorthanded goals – 24
• Vancouver Canucks' single-game record, most goals – four versus the Winnipeg Jets on October 12, 1992 (tied with Rosaire Paiement, Bobby Schmautz, Rick Blight, Petri Skriko, Greg Adams, Tony Tanti, Martin Gélinas, Markus Näslund, Daniel Sedin, and Brock Boeser)
• Florida Panthers' single-season record, most goals – 59 in 2000–01

International

• World Junior Championships all-time record, most goals – 27 in 21 games (1989–1991)
• Winter Olympics single-game record, most goals – five (1998; semifinal vs. Finland)

NHL

• NHL record, most goals scored in proportion to team – 29.5% of the Florida Panthers' goals in 2000–01.

Transactions

• June 9, 1989 – Drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round, 113th overall, in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.
• October 31, 1991 – Signed by the Vancouver Canucks to a four-year, $3.5 million contract.
• June 16, 1994 – Re-signed by the Vancouver Canucks to a five-year, $24.5 million contract.
• January 17, 1999 – Traded by the Vancouver Canucks, along with Bret Hedican, Brad Ference and Vancouver's third-round draft choice (Robert Fried) in 2000, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Ed Jovanovski, Dave Gagner, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and Florida's first-round draft choice (Nathan Smith) in 2000.
• February 8, 1999 – Signed by the Florida Panthers to a five-year, $47.5 million deal.
• March 18, 2002 – Traded by the Florida Panthers, along with Florida's second-round draft choice in 2002 (Lee Falardeau), to the New York Rangers in exchange for Igor Ulanov, Filip Novak, the Rangers' first-round draft choice in 2002 (Eric Nystrom), the Rangers' second-round draft choice in 2002 (Rob Globke) and the Rangers fourth-round draft choice in 2003 (later traded to the Atlanta Thrashers; Atlanta selected Guillaume Desbiens).

Images for kids

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  Bure with the Vancouver Canucks in 1997

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  The Calder Memorial Trophy that Bure won in his rookie season

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  Bure's first game-worn Canucks jersey (centre) on display at Rogers Arena.

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  Pavel Bure in 1997 wearing an alternate captain's crest for the Vancouver Canucks.

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  The puck commemorating Bure's 54th goal of the 1999–2000 season.

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  Bure with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Spartak Cup match on August 14, 2001.

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  Bure at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

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  Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Bure in August 2001.

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  Pavel Bure (second from right) along with his brother Valeri Bure (far right) and Russian Olympic Committee President Leonid Tyagachev (second from left), meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin (far left) on November 14, 2001.