News from May 1999

Bure is making rapid knee recovery

Miami - Florida star Pavel Bure is recovering from his damaged right knee ahead of schedule.

"The right knee is stronger than the left," Bure said. "The doctor said it's the best he's seen after six weeks."

Bure, who scored 13 goals in 11 games after the Panthers acquired him from the Canucks in January, underwent reconstructive surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament on March 29.

Rehabilitation has been running, jumping, bicycling, leg-pressing. Two hours a day. Six days a week.

"He's well ahead of schedule," said Mary Ann Towne, Bure's physical therapist. "The doctors are extraordinary pleased."

Towne said Bure could get on the ice now, but the Panthers, who will pay Bure $47million US over the next five years, would rather he not take the chance.

Bure said that won't be a problem. "I usually don't skate in the summer." Bure said.

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The latest on Pavel...

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Florida Panthers right winger Pavel Bure will soon depart for his off-season home in Moscow after completing his rehabilitation assignment in less than seven weeks -- about five weeks ahead of schedule.

Mary Ann Towne, who has been overseeing Bure's physical therapy at the Cleveland Clinic in Fort Lauderdale, said Dr. James Andrews, who performed reconstructive surgery on Bure's right knee on March 30, was "absolutely amazed" at Bure's progress when the Panthers' star and Towne visited him last Monday in Birmingham, Ala.

"They said, 'Let's measure the range of motion (in the knee),' " Towne said, "and he took the lower part of his leg and pulled it right up under the upper part. They said he's doing as well if not better than any player they've ever had.''

At this point, Towne said, it's reasonable to expect Bure to be 100 percent when the Panthers open training camp in early September.

Bure, who lives only a few hundred yards from the Cleveland Clinic facility, has been working with Towne two hours a day, six days a week for the past seven weeks.

"It's hard work,'' Bure said. "Maybe it's harder mentally than physically. Before I started I wondered, 'Would it be easier or harder than last time?' But it's been much easier, because Mary Ann has been working with me."

Bure first tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee on Nov. 9, 1995. He missed the remainder of the 1995-96 season while rehabbing under the tutelage of his father in Moscow.

"My father is a coach, he's not a doctor or physical therapist,'' he said.

"I have a good rapport with (Towne). She knows when to give me a break.''

Bure, who scored 13 goals in just 11 games with the Panthers after the Jan. 17 trade from Vancouver, apparently tore the ACL a second time March 3 in a 7-5 loss to Colorado.

He spent the next three weeks working with Towne in hopes of making the leg strong enough so he could finish the season, but team doctors ultimately decided on surgery. Three days later, he began rehab, which has included light jogging on a treadmill, sliding on a slide board and squats.

``I've been very, very pleased with his progress,'' Towne said. "Every day it got a little stronger. He improved so fast I had to change the rehab approach.

"It helps that we've had a good rapport all along. He gives good feedback and is very, very cooperative."

Bure plans to return to Moscow before the end of the month and resume his normal off-season workout schedule, which consists mostly of bike riding, weight lifting and running. He said he doesn't plan to skate before August -- ``I never skate in the summer'' -- but will put on the blades a few times before camp begins.

``This program can take as long as 12-16 weeks, and he's done everything,'' said Towne, who plans to continue to monitor Bure's progress by phone. ``Now it's just a matter of getting more confidence and strength, as well as quickness. And his reaction times will improve as he keeps getting healthier.''

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Pavel Bure Fan Club Message Board

At the suggestion of our members, we have added a message board link to our web site. Please pay a visit, so that you talk to other members, and posts questions to other fans besides going to the chat room. It could be a really more convient way for you to easily get to know each other and talk about hockey and of course, the Russian Rocket

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Pavel Bure (Special Edition Jersey)

Russian Jerseys have entered into an agreement with Pavel for this Special Edition Jersey. The style chosen was the 1994 Russian National team jersey. If you are a serious Bure fan......this is for you!
Price is $us74.95 plus shipping and handling.

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