https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNdxbDVfPlQ

In what was a fitting tribute Saturday on Hockey Night In Canada, the Vancouver Canucks finally retired Pavel Bure’s No.10. Easily the franchise’s most talented player, the Russian Rocket was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame last year enshrined with Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin and Adam Oates. He’s still the most breathtaking player I’ve ever seen. In the blink of an eye, Bure could be gone in a flash for one of those electrifying finishes on a breakaway.

The biggest highlight still is his breakaway goal in overtime eliminating Calgary in the first round of the 1994 playoffs. Of course, they made it all the way to Game 7 before falling to the Rangers in a classic series. Bure was remarkable throughout posting 16 goals and 15 assists totaling 31 points in 24 games that postseason. A heroic performance that ranks as one of the greatest to this day.

A former Calder winner, Bure had back-to-back 60-goal seasons in his second and third years eclipsing 100 points during both. In ’93-94 where he finished with 107 (60-47-107) over 76 games, he had 25 power play goals, four shorthanded goals and nine game-winners. Simply remarkable. It’s a shame that he left Vancouver on bad terms following a trade request that sent him to the Panthers in a package that included Ed Jovanovski and Kevin Weekes. The Russian Rocket continued to perform at a high octane level winning consecutive Rocket Richards for the league’s most goals in ’99-00 (58) and ’00-01 (59). His first two full seasons in the sunshine state.

With the Panthers struggling following a first round appearance in 2000, Bure was traded to the Rangers on Mar. 18, 2002. It fulfilled a dream to play in New York City. Ironically for the team that broke his heart. Though his Rangers career only lasted 51 games due to a career ending injury, the Russian Rocket was still great scoring 31 goals and 50 points spanning the ’02 conclusion and ’03. That included a beautiful finish off an Eric Lindros pass on an odd-man rush. His momentum after he scored saw him fly on the ice following a ridiculous one-time blast. If memory serves correctly, I think it might have been his final NHL goal.

It’s still sad to think his career ended so early. A knee injury kept him out the entire ’03-04 season. He re-injured it during a preseason game against the Devils. I’m not going to get into the particulars. It’s still a bitter memory for Ranger fans. I only wish he could have gone out on his own terms. Instead, he announced his retirement in 2005 during the lockout. In only 702 career games, he finished with 437 goals and 342 assists for 779 points. Outstanding production. Five times over a 12-year career, he scored 50-or-more goals. Of the 437, 254 came with the Canucks. How many more could he have scored had he stayed healthy? I have always felt he would have reached 700. I guess we’ll never know. I’m just glad he’s a Hall Of Famer and finally returned to Vancouver on much better terms. It was a great tribute with former coach Pat Quinn and former teammate and close personal friend Gino Odjick, who donned a cool top hat for the special occasion.

One favorite memory will always be his virtuoso five-goal game against Finland for Russia in Torino. The full video featuring some electrifying finishes including his patented forehand deke.

Pavel Bure 5 Goals