Scroll down, or choose the headline to read the news:March 31st, 1998
With Bure rushin' to rocket out of here, who's coming this way?Tony Gallagher The ProvinceNow that it has dawned on the rest of the local populace the Vancouver Canucks have strongly considered trading Pavel Bure, the questions become: Where will he go and what comes back this summer?It is well known he has wanted to be elsewhere for more than two years now, given his long-standing feud with Pat Quinn, and clearly nothing much has changed to make him inclined to hang around. He went to new boss Mike Keenan recently and re-stated he wants to leave, despite the coach's carefully worded denial Monday. And having said that, it's reasonable to assume it's only a matter of time before the club determines the best way to improve this team just might be by wishing him a fond and loving farewell -- for the right players. Bure cannot be traded until the end of the season and at that point, only to teams that have not made the playoffs. Given there is absolutely no rush on the matter, even if the club definitely decides to pull the trigger, it makes sense nothing will happen until after the Stanley Cup final. Why make a move before talking to every team to gauge its interest? And playoff teams can't make a move until after they're eliminated. While this probably is the last thing the beleaguered fan wants to hear, given all these unsettling changes to no particular advantage, moving Bure does make sense -- especially if he doesn't want to be here. Sure we'll all miss his brilliant play, but Alex Mogilny could move on to the No. 1 line and produce major numbers if the right people make sure he's happy next season. In return the Canucks must get at least three good players. In a perfect world they would get an outstanding centre, a left winger and maybe another defenceman. But they've put themselves in a pickle in the goaltending department, and it may turn out a top-line goalie will have to return in such a transaction. Clearly the plan at the moment is to go after Rangers goaltender Mike Richter. But in unrestricted free agency there are no guarantees. With a Washington state residency Richter's taxes won't be that much greater, if at all, from those in New York. But other factors remain a concern. While Philly apparently isn't that keen on Richter, the Rangers most certainly will be, as will be the Isles. And even though he is a good buddy of Mark Messier, Richter would still have to put up with the travel, Keenan's Captain Hook act and the fact the team at the moment does not appear poised to hoist a Stanley Cup soon. And then there's the fact it's just plain easier to stay with what's familiar rather than pick up and move 3,000 miles to the unknown. To overcome these obstacles, owner John McCaw is going to have to reach that much deeper into his jeans, although not having to pay Bure's $8 million US-plus contract might help in that regard. John Vanbiesbrouck would remain an option as would Kelly Hrudey going the free agent route, but there has to be some question as to how good these veterans are as they advance in years. And they face the same disincentives to coming to Vancouver. It just may be Bure will have to go to a team willing to give up a quality goalie. While at least the Isles and Rangers discussed Bure with the Canucks at the deadline, most high-revenue teams, including Florida and L.A., would be interested in at least hearing Bure scenarios when the time comes. Such a deal will not be easy to make given Bure's salary for next season and the money it would cost a team to tie him up long term. If the right deal cannot be struck, there could be further delay. But when a player has his heart set on playing somewhere else, fighting him on it rarely makes sense, and only if you're winning. March 31st, 1998
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAVEL
March 31st, 1998
Bure staying put -- againCanucks' coach squelches new rumour that top scorer seeks tradeGrant Kerr, Toronto Globe and MailThose always fascinating Pavel Bure trade rumours are making the hockey rounds again, this time launching the Russian Rocket adrift from the Vancouver Canucks for good after the current season. It was reported last weekend by radio station CKNW, broadcaster of the Canucks' games, that Bure wants out and could be traded in the summer. The Canucks, through coach Mike Keenan, denied yesterday that Bure asked to be moved. In addition, linemate and team captain Mark Messier reiterated that he didn't know anything about the Bure brouhaha, which has simmered since last summer. Bure did not practice with the Canucks yesterday after reporting to the workout with the flu. He was sent home by trainers to rest up for tomorrow's game against the Edmonton Oilers. "It's not something that we've had to deal with," Keenan said of Bure allegedly wishing to be traded. "I wouldn't make it public if it was a discussion we did have." Bure earns $5.5-million (U.S.) this season and has one year left on the five-year agreement he signed after the 1994 playoffs. The final year apparently calls for Bure to be paid an average of what the top five forwards in the National Hockey League earn, meaning about $8-million. The Russian Rocket is Vancouver's top offensive player. He leads the Canucks with 45 goals and 81 points. Vancouver, 22-39-13, has lost its past two games and, with eight games remaining, probably will miss the playoffs again in the Western Conference. Keenan has praised Bure's play this season, although Bure often operates independently of other players as he constantly seeks to score spectacular, individually created goals. Bure has played for the Canucks since 1991 after leaving his home town of Moscow. He arguably has been one of the most exciting players in the league with his explosive speed and creativity with the puck. Gino Odjick was Bure's closest friend on the Canucks until last week. Odjick was traded to the New York Islanders, leaving Bure despondent. Keenan said he informed Bure three weeks earlier of the likelihood of a trade involving Odjick because Keenan had decided that Odjick was not as proficient as Donald Brashear, another bruising left winger like Odjick. "Gino would expect Pavel to play as hard as he can," Keenan said. "If they have a true friendship, that's what Gino would expect from Pavel. That's part of the business." Reports of right winger Bure wanting to be traded started last summer, apparently when he demanded to be paid an estimated $1.7-million he thought he was owed from the 1994 NHL lockout of players. Bure's contract called for him to be paid under those circumstances. Bure changed agents last year, switching to Mike Gillis of London, Ont., from Ron Salcer of Los Angeles. He also parted ways with his father and personal trainer, former Russian Olympic swimmer Vladimir Bure. After two injury-filled seasons, Bure has regained his scoring touch and could reach the 50-goal plateau for the third time in seven NHL seasons. The Canucks are reported to have paid Bure the outstanding $1.7-million. Keenan said he was unaware of the nature of Bure's discussions with former Vancouver general manager Pat Quinn. The Canucks fired Quinn in early November before Keenan was hired to replace coach Tom Renney. The Canucks did not attempt to deal Bure at the NHL trading deadline a week ago, Keenan said. "There was no discussion about it." Bure and his agent could not be reached for comment yesterday. "I didn't know anything was going on," Messier said of Bure. "For me to comment would be unfair." Bure celebrates his 27th birthday today during his seventh season with the Canucks. His 248 goals for Vancouver are the third most in club history, 14 short of the record established by assistant coach Stan Smyl. Smyl scored 262 goals, Tony Tanti 250, Bure 248 and Trevor Linden 247. Linden was traded to the Islanders in early February. March 31st, 1998
Bure's agent has nothing to say about trade demandReports surfaced on the weekend that the Russian Rocket wanted new address.Elliott Pap Vancouver SunPavel Bure Saying discussions that are private "should remain private", the agent for Vancouver Canuck forward Pavel Bure declined Monday to wade into the latest controversy surrounding his client.Mike Gillis, who has represented Bure since last summer, said he was not in a position to comment on radio and newspaper reports that the dynamic right winger has renewed his request to be traded. Bure made his original request to former general manager Pat Quinn last summer. "I don't have the authority to comment about it and I know Pavel would not comment about it," said Gillis from his home in Kingston, Ont. "That unfortunately is my answer today. If anything like that did occur, it didn't come from Pavel and it didn't come from me. That's my philosophy and I can't afford to change it." According to the reports, Bure spoke to Canuck head coach Mike Keenan early last week and re-stated his desire to be moved. Bure was then asked to play hard for the remainder of the season and that his situation would be addressed in the summer. Bure told the Vancouver Sun on the weekend that "it doesn't really matter whether I want to be here or not." He also said he would do his best "for the team I'm playing for" and that "nothing is going to change right now anyway." Curiously, Bure did not practise with his teammates Monday. Keenan said that Bure showed up at the club's Burnaby 8-Rinks training facility with flu symptoms and was sent to the doctor. Keenan, understandably, was not pleased with this latest distraction even though the Canucks are just a heartbeat away from mathematical elimination. Vancouver's next outing is Wednesday at home against the Edmonton Oilers. "If Pavel wants to leave, I'm sure he's going to make it known that he wants to leave," Keenan said. "At this point, I don't know what discussions he had with Pat Quinn but he hasn't had those discussions with me. Pavel and his agent haven't requested a trade and if they had it wouldn't be something I would discuss with the media, as is the case with injuries to players, business negotiations and/or discussions regarding players. "Our policy from a team perspective is it's something we'll keep to ourselves." Canuck captain Mark Messier, Bure's linemate since the first day of training camp, said he was unaware of the renewed trade request reports and that he would reserve comment until he had first talked to Bure. Meanwhile, Keenan was perturbed enough by this latest brushfire that he went public on the Enrico Ciccone dressing room scene in which Brad May reportedly stood up for the since traded defenceman. "I'm going to put an end to the story," Keenan declared. "Brad May did not stand up in the dressing room. He was asked a question by the coach, in front of the team, in front of Ciccone, and Ciccone was at the same time given a chance to make a response and he elected not to. "Brad May was asked what his opinion was on the situation. His response was that, 'I think it's fundamentally sound that a player who wants to play has the opportunity to challenge the coach or have a discussion with the coach.' I said I agree completely but that there is a proper place for it. For Ciccone to run out to the media in a disrespectful fashion is not acceptable and Brad May agreed with me." March 30th, 1998 Pavel popular in local fan carnival
March 29th, 1998
Bure eyes eight games, and a moveRussian Rocket is unhappy following exit of Odjick and wants to be traded.Iain MacIntyre Vancouver SunFor a virtuoso goal-scorer who has created masterpieces in his seven seasons as a Vancouver Canuck, Pavel Bure's bank shot Saturday against the Washington Capitals would be forgettable except for the possibility it was one of the final goals he will score for the franchise.The Canucks' season has only eight games remaining - five of them at home - and it is likely they will be the last in a Vancouver uniform for Bure, who remains unhappy here and recently asked again for a trade. Canuck broadcaster CKNW reported during Saturday's game that Bure wants out and could be traded this summer. And two people close to the right winger confirmed to the Vancouver Sun that he has made the Mike Keenan regime well aware of his desire to play elsewhere. One of the sources, however, said Bure could be persuaded to stay if the Canucks award him a new contract, although this seems unlikely. The Canucks, who have reported huge financial losses the last two seasons, will be obligated to pay Bure about $8 million US next season in the final year of his current contract, so any new deal would have to exceed that lofty salary. Bure expressed his discontent last summer to former general manager Pat Quinn, who asked the Russian Rocket to play hard and be patient. Keenan, who took over as coach in November and has become largely responsible for player moves, is believed to have told Bure the same thing when the two spoke prior to last week's National Hockey League trading deadline. Bure has upheld his end, rebounding from two miserable seasons decimated by injury to reestablish himself this year as one of the league's best and most exciting players. His goal in the 3-2 loss against Washington, which further dimmed the Canucks' already grim playoff prospects, was his 45th of the season. "It doesn't really matter whether I want to be here or not," Bure, who turns 27 on Tuesday, said after the game. "I'm still a professional and I'm going to play hard no matter what. I just want to concentrate on hockey; there's eight games to go. "My job is to go on the ice and do the best I can for the team I'm playing for. In summer and in training camp, that's when it's time to deal with the business part of hockey." Bure has disliked the Canucks' burdensome travel, their almost constant losing the last two seasons and the club's slow movement on contractual issues -- his claim for backpay from the lockout season of 1994-95 was settled only last fall. But the critical mass of Bure's unhappiness may have been reached when Gino Odjick, his best and perhaps only friend on the team, was traded by Keenan last Monday. Introverted, Bure spends much of his time alone, reading or working on his computer during team flights and rooming by himself on the road. The trade of Odjick to the New York Islanders may have removed the strongest personal bond Bure had to the Canucks. "Gino is my best friend since Day 1," Bure said. "Now he's not here and I'm going to miss him. But there's a lot of things in your life that make you decide what you're going to do." Although it will be difficult for the Canucks to part with the most entertaining and popular player in franchise history, a trade this summer makes sense: - The Canucks have a glut of right wingers, where Alex Mogilny is under-utilized and could play on the top line; - A trade would free up millions to use in pursuit of a free-agent goalie or a power-play pointman or to stem the alleged losses by ownership; - Bure's market value hasn't been this high since 1994 and may not reach this level again. Bure, chosen in the fourth round of the 1989 entry draft on the recommendation of Canuck assistant general manager Mike Penny, showed up on the club's doorstep in October, 1991 after abruptly leaving Moscow. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 5 against the Winnipeg Jets. Dubbed the Russian Rocket, Bure scored 34 goals in 1991-92, becoming the first Canuck to be named the NHL's top rookie, then had back-to-back 60-goal seasons that earned him a five-year, $24.5-million-US contract after Vancouver's run to the 1994 Stanley Cup final. Bure's goal against Washington moved him one ahead of former teammate Trevor Linden in career goals by a Canuck, only two behind second-place Tony Tanti and 14 adrift of Stan Smyl's record 262 goals. March 28th, 1998 Canucks lose it in the first period 3-2All of the scoring came in the first period as Bellows converted on both Capital power-play chances and Ken Klee added his fourth of the season for Washington.Vancouver took the lead just 17 seconds into the game as Pavel Bure beat Olaf Kolzig from a tough angle, slipping a wrist shot between Kolzi and the goal post from the corner. Pavel Bure finished the game with a goal and an assist for Vancouver, +1 in the plus and minus and had 5 shots on goal. Pavel was chosen as the second star of the game. Vancouver fell to 1-3-2 in its last six games and remained last in the Western Conference, nine points behind Edmonton for the final playoff spot. March 26th, 1998 Major Canucks collapse in 3rd period leads to lossMike Peca scored twice during an five-goal third-period outburst as the Buffalo Sabres rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.Peca also decked Vancouver rookie Mattias Ohlund with an elbow that left the defenceman on the ice for several minutes and led to several fights. The teams combined for 227 penalty minutes in the Sabres' 6-2 victory Jan. 15 in Buffalo. Bure gave Vancouver the early lead just 21 seconds into the game when Messier fed him a pass from behind the Buffalo net. Bure easily beat Sabres goalie Steve Shields, making his first start in a month. May, acquired from Buffalo in a trade last month, made it 2-0 on a two-on-one by one-timing Messier's pass past Shields after he received a pass from Bure. The game degenerated into a series of brawls between two teams that combined for 252 penalty minutes on January 15th in Buffalo. Peca elbowed Mattias Ohlund to the head midway through the third period, knocking the Vancouver defenseman out for the rest of the game. Referee Dan Marouelli handed out 124 of the game's 152 penalty minutes in the third period,including six game misconducts. Pavel was a +1 for the night, scoring a goal and assisting on Vancouver's only other, and had 3 shots on goal. Pavel also took a 2 minute roughing penalty. March 25th, 1998 Close, but no Berard-for-Bure blockbusterClose, but no Berard.The Vancouver Canucks were close to a blockbuster deal with the New York Islanders, which apparently broke down right near the deadline. The principals in the deal were Pavel Bure, who would have headed to the Island, and Bryan Berard, the stellar defenceman with New York. While none of the principals are keen to discuss the issue, the bottom line was there wasn't time to work out the details. The Canucks also discussed moving the Russian Rocket to the Rangers, but the talks cooled immediately when Vancouver asked, as they always do, for Brian Leetch in return. It is not known whether the Canucks discussed Bure with any other teams, but it's likely his name came up with the Florida Panthers as well. Bure has never formally removed his request to be traded, despite the fact the dispute involving his back pay from the lockout has been settled. It is not clear whether this proposed trade will be revisited in the summer or as soon as the season ends for these two teams, but it's entirely likely. The Islanders would have to pick up a significant cost in Bure's contract if the deal is to proceed, depending upon which other players would be headed west in such a deal. Bure is guaranteed to make in the range of $8.5 million US next season.
-Tony Gallagher. |
