News from November 1998

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Not a time to panic: Burke

PHILADELPHIA -- The depleted Vancouver Canuck lineup received a reinforcement Sunday.

Unfortunately, it was only Bert Robertsson.

It's not like the hard-working checker doesn't deserve another recall from minor-league Syracuse. But with little offensive ability, Robertsson won't significantly upgrade the lineup.

Only general manager Brian Burke can do that, and he still hasn't.

Burke scouted the Canadiens-Penguins game Saturday in Montreal, where he spoke with, among others, Los Angeles King general manager Dave Taylor. But the weekend ended without any trades to bolster the Canuck lineup.

"It's not like I'm going to stand by and watch Rome burn," Burke said Sunday. "But it's not time for anyone to panic. Panic should not be in the lexicon of the general manager."

Preferably, neither would "losing," but the Canucks had done that six times in seven games before playing the Flyers here Sunday night. Vancouver had lost four straight and slipped to three games under .500 since top winger Alex Mogilny suffered a sprained knee nine days ago.

"I understand there is a point where you have left a gap [in the standings] that can't be made up," Burke said. "But we're not there. We're not going through anything other teams don't go through."

Burke refused to discuss his meeting with Taylor, their second in two weeks. The Kings are one of the teams believed to have some interest in Pavel Bure.

Weekend reports suggested the Washington Capitals also are interested, despite general manager George McPhee's insistence to the contrary.

To make room for Robertsson, the Canucks demoted winger Peter Schaefer.

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No closer to trade: Burke

PHILADELPHIA -- Vancouver Canucks president and general manager Brian Burke said Sunday he's no closer to trading Pavel Bure or anyone else on his now 9-13-1 and sinking team.

But the Canucks still were well represented at Sunday night's game here against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team, along with the New York Rangers, that is considered a frontrunner in the Bure sweepstakes.

Vice-president of player personnel Steve Tambellini flew in from Albany after seeing an American League game and head pro scout Shawn Dineen drove down from New York where he watched the first two periods of the Rangers-Nashville matinee.

"I just came to watch our club," said Dineen, who has been scouting the New York Islanders most thoroughly of late. "This is the first time I've had a chance to see them all year."

As for Burke, all he said was that there's nothing new on the trade front.

"There's nothing new to report," he said.

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No time frame, but...

PHILADELPHIA -- The Vancouver Canucks need help and it's on the way ... someday.

"I have no time frame but I anti-cipate something to be done in 10 to 14 days," said club president and general manager Brian Burke Saturday when he was asked for about the millionth time when a Pavel Bure deal might get done.

"It's heating up," he said. "But I have no schedule. The deal will be done when the right one's there."

That's a familiar mantra. Burke said a couple of weeks ago he thought something might happen in a couple of weeks.

On Saturday he said he has been getting calls from other GMs interested in doing deals that don't necessarily involve the Russian Rocket.

"They're (GMs) reading the papers -- we're all vultures in this business -- and they've been calling me today," he said, referring to Friday's 7-1 loss in Detroit and his team's four-game losing streak.

"They're calling and we're talking, not about Bure but about other things."

Meanwhile, over the last few days coach Mike Keenan has been backing off in his campaign to get some usable assets soon for Bure.

Asked about Burke's suggestion that a Bure trade could be another two weeks away, Keenan said: "I have no comment at all about the Pavel Bure trade. That's Brian Burke's job. I'll just concentrate on the club and coaching as well as I can."

Burke denied he'd slapped a gag order on Keenan or even had a talk with Keenan.

"Mike and I talk every day," Burke said. "He's had no instructions on what he should or should not say.

"Mike's an intelligent person and he doesn't need input from me on what to say or not say."

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Bure trade may take two more weeks, Burke says

DETROIT - Two weeks after stating he hoped to finalize a Pavel Bure trade within two weeks, Vancouver Canuck general manager Brian Burke revised his time frame Friday and said it may take another 10-14 days, or longer to deal the holdout star.

The news will do nothing to pacify Canuck coach Mike Keenan, who has complained publicly about the team's lack of depth in the wake of injuries and Bure's absence.

It also will likely further fuel speculation about a rift between Burke and Keenan over the general manager's handling of the situation and the coach's public dissent.

"If we are squandering points because this deal's not done, two points in November is the same as two points in April," Burke said in a telephone interview from Boston, where he is spent U.S. Thanksgiving with his children. "The balancing act comes each time you evaluate: 'Can I get more in a deal by waiting? And if I can, is it worth points lost in the interim?'"

Burke said the answer to both questions remains "yes."

But while he waits, the Canucks burn.

The Canucks have lost four straight games and six of their last seven after losing 7-1 to the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings Friday night.

Burke said he is investigating making trades, excluding Bure, which would bolster a Canuck lineup thinned by Bure's holdout and injuries to key forwards Alex Mogilny and Todd Bertuzzi.

Burke earlier this week said he wouldn't rush a Bure trade even if the Canucks lost five players to injuries or five straight games. That led to a Toronto Sun columnist quoting an anonymous Canuck player criticizing Burke, and a subsequent column by The Vancouver Sun's Gary Mason, who suggested Keenan may have been the source of the Toronto article.

"I'm glad the team was on the road when this hit the fan, but I don't think it's a distraction," Burke said. "My instructions to the players would be to disregard what's in the paper. Mike and I are not having a problem. His job is not in jeopardy and I'm offended by the question."

Burke and Keenan do have a problem in that the coach has been complaining about his injuries and lineup depth, which the general manager feels is wrong.

"We have two guys hurt," Burke said. "They happen to be very important players, but it's still just two guys. There are teams with nine guys injured. We've got no right to whine about injuries.

"And the guys who aren't injured shouldn't be able to seize on this as an excuse [for losing]. If we had five guys hurt, I might buy it, but not with two. I do agree we need improvement, but I believe our team is capable of winning."

Asked if he has told Keenan to stop complaining about his lineup, Burke said: "I don't tell Mike what to say."

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Rangers 'still in Bure sweepstakes'

In the BBC series of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Charlotte Lucas explains the secret of her mismatched marriage to the simpering, annoying, imbecile Mr. Collins.

The Rev. Collins is encouraged by his wife to spend much time in his garden, regularly visit his adored patron and, when home, to sit in his book room, which occupies a part of the house away from her parlour.

"So it often happens," she concludes, "that a whole day passes in which we have not spent more than a few minutes in each other's company. I find that I can bear the solitude very cheerfully."

In the same way, distance is the key to the survival of the hockey marriage between Vancouver Canuck general manager Brian Burke and head coach Mike Keenan.

Only a few times this season have Burke and Keenan been together for a road game, and Burke is often away from Vancouver when his coach and team are at home.

This does not make for a cheerful existence, just a tolerable one.

Since Keenan and Burke are getting on each other's nerves from a distance, it is easy to imagine them getting on each other's larynx if they spent much time together.

The main source of this tension, of course, is the unresolved absence of winger Pavel Bure.

Publicly, Keenan has expressed frustration at the pace of Burke's trade mission. Privately, he fumes that his general manager is letting down his coach and players and isn't being held accountable.

Publicly, Burke says he understands his coach's frustration, but is adamant he won't be hurried by losses or injuries to trade Bure. Privately, he wishes Keenan would shut up about the lack of depth, stop giving his players an excuse to lose, and allow time for the Bure deal to happen.

For the moment, each is right. Keenan needs players, and Burke needs time. But it is becoming apparent as the season progresses and the Canucks flounder, that the coach is becoming more right and the general manager is risking being wrong.

Burke's central argument in acting cautiously is that the market for Bure needs to develop, and that waiting can not hurt the Canucks in the long run.

But the Toronto Maple Leafs and Petr Nedved are proof that it is possible to wait too long and miss a market's peak.

In August, Leafs' general manager Mike Smith pulled out of a trade with the Florida Panthers that would have seen him jettison expensive, unhappy backup goalie Felix Potvin and defenceman Jeff Ware in exchange for centre Rob Niedermayer and defenceman Rhett Warrener.

The Panthers subsequently signed free agent Sean Burke and the goaltending market has shrivelled since then. Garth Snow has firmly established himself as the Canucks' goalie, while two other teams needing netminding help, the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, finally gave up on the Leafs last week and traded with one another.

It's quite possible Smith will eventually make a good trade for Potvin, but it seems he will have to settle for something less than what the Panthers offered. Potvin, meanwhile, continues to stew while drawing bi-monthly paycheques of about $210,000 US.

"It isn't good for anyone and is definitely hurting me," Potvin said this week. "It seems there was an opportunity there for a deal to be made and it didn't happen. I don't know if Mr. Smith has a hard time making trades, but it seems all the time that something's close and nothing happens."

Nedved miscalculated his worth and the Pittsburgh Penguins' mood when he rejected offers two years ago. He spent 17 months out of the National Hockey League before agreeing this week to a $10-million US three-year contract - less than he could have had before last season - with the New York Rangers. (The Penguins also lost by not dealing Nedved sooner, receiving in Alexei Kovalev a player who has never scored more than 58 points in a season).

Importantly, the Rangers bolstered their offence by getting Nedved, and now can afford to take or leave Bure. And with high-scoring New York Islander Zigmund Palffy still available, what happens if the Isles swing a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers or Los Angeles Kings, thereby potentially eliminating two more teams from the Bure bidding?

The Canucks, missing injured first-liners Alex Mogilny and Todd Bertuzzi, are falling in the standings and risk squandering the good start built by Keenan, Snow, a surprisingly strong defence corps and the renaissance of Mark Messier.

A prolonged slump jeopardizes the Canucks' unanticipated opportunity to make the playoffs, and the millions in revenue that would generate.

Burke has done an excellent job of managing the Canucks since taking over in June. He solidified his defence by signing free-agent Murray Baron and re-signing Bryan McCabe at the Canucks' price, did not force a deal for a goalie just to save face, gave up nothing for veteran checker Trent Klatt and has done a shrewd job getting teams interested in Bure.

But all those works are like finger paintings compared to the masterpiece he is trying to achieve in the Bure deal. And if he waits too long, all he may have at the end of the season is a blank canvas and an empty spot behind the bench.

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It just gets worse

......The front line is Twiggy-thin until Canucks president and general manager Brian Burke can pull off a trade for Pavel Bure.

Burke says the Rangers are still interested and the fact that New York shipped Alexei Kovalev to Pittsburgh for Petr Nedved this week doesn't change things because the Canucks never were interested in Kovalev.

The Canucks are interested in goalie Dan Cloutier and forwards Manny Malhotra and Nik Sundstrum. "Josh (Holden) went in for Zezel but with Chris McAllister, who's a defenceman and Steve Staios, a converted defence-man, we're really limited," said Keenan.

And that situation shows just how desperate the Canucks have become. Matt Cooke was called up from Syracuse but isn't going to turn things around by himself.

Burke suggested Wednesday night he'd make trades to solve the crisis.

"I don't think there's much in Syracuse that can help us," he said before the Cooke call-up. "A trade is the option, but not the Bure trade. We have other assets if we need to fill a hole."

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Won't rush Bure swap, Burke says

Keenan calls for GM to get on with it, while injury-plagued Canucks keep losing

The heat is getting cranked up in the Vancouver Canucks' kitchen over a blockbuster trade, but president and general manager Brian Burke has no intention of getting out. Nor does he want to throw the Bure out with the bath water, if you'll forgive two consecutive hoary metaphors.

But this time the fellow twisting the controls on the Canucks' stove is head coach Mike Keenan, who used the media this week in an apparent attempt to speed Burke along in his Pavel Bure auction. Keenan noted that Alexander Mogilny and Todd Bertuzzi are injured, and then slyly lobbed the hot potato back in Burke's court, if we're permitted one last mangled metaphor.

Well, missing three of our top four forwards, I think it's a fairly safe assessment to make that we need help," Keenan said after the Canucks lost the fourth game of their last five, to the Ottawa Senators, which was also the start of a five-game road trip that saw them play the Toronto Maple Leafs last night. "It's time for us to evaluate our personnel in terms of who can play under pressure and who can't. It's time to evaluate our depth of personnel. That's for Brian Burke to evaluate.

There was also a report that at least a few of the Canucks' players are not happy with the length of time the Bure trade is taking and were angry that Burke was quoting as saying "I don't care if we lose five games in a row," but he wouldn't be rushed into making a bad trade.

Burke brushed aside thoughts of a rift between him and his coach -- who are both in their first full National Hockey League seasons on the job -- and said the players could surely understand his meaning.

Obviously, [Keenan] is getting impatient," Burke said yesterday. "But I'm not going to let this blow up. I understand that [Keenan] wants to win. He wants to get two points tonight. But my job is different. I have to take a longer view.

This is not a Mike Keenan-Brian Burke problem. It's a coach-GM thing. I've never had a coach yet who was perfectly happy with the team I gave him.

Of course, no coach will ever be stupid enough to express complete happiness with a team assembled by a general manager. What, then, would he use as an excuse for the inevitable losing streaks?

As for the players, Burke said, "I think our players are smart enough to realize what I meant. I didn't say I don't care about losing, I said I wouldn't let losing force me to make a bad trade."

As it stands, Burke said, he expects a trade to be completed within "10 to 14 days" because more teams are asking for bid cards. And no, Toronto Maple Leaf fans, associate general manager Mike Smith has not asked Burke to take Felix Potvin, nor does Burke claim to want the goaltender. His greatest need are some scoring forwards.

We could make a decent deal today," he said. "But I think I can make a better deal [by waiting] because more teams have come in.

Burke would not comment on which teams are calling, but word around the NHL is that yesterday's big trade that saw Alexei Kovalev go from the New York Rangers to the Pittsburgh Penguins and centre Petr Nedved head for New York does not mean Ranger general manager Neil Smith has lost interest in Bure.

One executive said Smith hopes, now that he has "a marquee centre to play with him" to get Bure from the Canucks. So far, though, Smith has not wanted to part with goaltender Dan Cloutier and centre Manny Malholtra, both prized rookies.

Other teams thought to be in the hunt are the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and possibly the San Jose Sharks. Burke also said the Canucks' list of injured players is not going to make him move any faster than necessary. That's because the two most important injured players, Mogilny and Bertuzzi, will not be out for as long has originally thought.

Mogilny, who was diagnosed with a sprained knee instead of a more serious injury, will be back within three weeks, while Bertuzzi, who has a broken bone in his leg, will be out six weeks, not the eight originally forecast.

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Keenan gets kids working

As much as I don't think Mike Keenan's ego and personality would ever make him long term in any job, he does deserve credit for helping get the Canucks to play reasonably well with very little player depth.

I can't imagine the Canucks not making the playoffs the last two years if they had worked as hard most nights as they have this year. The one thing KeenanĘhas brought to this team is a harder and more consistent work ethic.

For years, people have said all they want to see is a team that works hard and doesn't quit. Well, they're getting that most nights, but it still isn't enough to fill GM Place, nor is it enough to take the team to the next level in the standings. All the hard work is doing is making the team easier to stomach and less frustrating to watch.

The reason fans are getting antsy to see what they are able to get in the Pavel Bure deal is because the nucleus is there for the Canucks to do some really good things this season and for years to come. If the goaltending can somehow continue to defy all rhyme and reason and maintain the standard it has set so far this season, then that will rank as the biggest surprise of the 1990s.

When you look at the defence with a young stud like Mathias Ohlund, the way Bryan McCabe should continue to develop, the improvement that Adrian Aucoin has shown and if Bret Hedican to play well consistently, then there won't be many teams that can say they've got a better or more physical and mobile defence than Vancouver's.

Up front is the real problem and this is where Brian Burke has to cash in on the Bure trade. That the season has hit the quarterĘpole shows how tough it is to get market value for him.

The Rangers make the most sense to acquire Bure, from the standpoint they don't seem to care how much money they throw around. But they're not going to give up their best young forward, Niklas Sundstrom. Of all the possible scenarios that have been kicked around, the best so far appears to be holdout forward Zigmund Palffy fromĘthe Islanders. There would also have to be more thrown in than just Palffy to satisfy Vancouver, but at least the Canucks are basically trading goals for goals.

As much as people would like to think you just pick up the phone and trade one superstar for another, it doesn't work that way -- which is why Bure is still in Moscow. It's not so much figuring which offer makes the most sense as it is trying to get an offer worth looking at.

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GM still bucking bad Bure deal

TORONTO -- Brian Burke, the increasingly beleaguered Canucks president and general manager, isn't backing down.

After his team lost 5-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday, Burke continued to say he won't be forced into making a Pavel Bure trade until the right one comes along, adding that talks with the Rangers still are ongoing even though New York sent Alexei Kovalev to Pittsburgh in a deal for Petr Nedved.

"The New York thing is still alive," said Burke.

That said, Burke added there was nothing new on Bure and he will head home to the Boston area for a U.S. Thanksgiving holiday with his kids.

As for suggestions from unnamed players that the team is fed up with his inability to pull the trigger, he was adamant about that too.

"I don't believe that a player on our team ever talked to him," said Burke of reports in both The Province and Toronto Sun in which a member of the Canucks was quoted as saying players were angry after Burke's weekend comments that he didn't care if the team lost five straight games.

"That was taken out of context. I was asked if the (Alex) Mogilny injury would speed up a Bure trade and I said this deal will only be made when the right deal comes along. I think our players are smart enough to know that."

"That was taken out of context," said Mark Messier. "There's nobody who cares more about this team than Brian Burke. The players know it.

"It's a complicated situation. Pavel is a valuable commodity. The man who is supposed to be the best GM in the the world, Glen Sather, has sat on players."

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Rangers 'still in Bure sweepstakes'

TORONTO -- New York Rangers' general manager Neil Smith said Wednesday he remains very much in the hunt for Vancouver Canuck Pavel Bure despite his team's acquisition of former Pittsburgh Penguin Petr Nedved.

Canuck general manager Brian Burke confirmed the Rangers' continued interest in Bure, who is holding out to back his trade demand, and said he spoke with Smith both before and after Wednesday's five-player trade that saw Nedved join the Rangers and Alexei Kovalev go to the Penguins.

"Brian made it clear he wasn't interested in Kovalev," Smith told reporters in Buffalo, where Nedved started as Wayne Gretzky's left winger in the Rangers' game last night against the Sabres. "About a week ago, I was talking to Brian before I considered this trade. I told him I was thinking about trading Kovalev and asked him if that would hurt my ability to make a trade for Bure, and he said 'no'.

"I believe we are [still in the hunt for Bure]. I think Brian is in the early stage of pursuing this, but I know he wants us involved. We'll stay in it as long as we think it doesn't get too rich for our blood."

There was immediate speculation that the $10-million-US, three-year deal the Rangers gave Nedved, and the departure of Kovalev, might affect Smith's desire or ability to go after Bure.

Nedved, who was out of the National Hockey League for 17 months, went to the Rangers along with Penguins' defenceman Chris Tamer and centre Sean Pronger. Centre Harry York was dispatched to Pittsburgh along with Kovalev.

"The New York thing is still on," Burke said between periods of the Canucks' game here against the Maple Leafs. "Neil told me last night he was going to make the trade. We talked again this afternoon and we're still [discussing a Bure trade]."

Smith has made it clear to Burke that he is unwilling to give up three young players -- Niklas Sundstrom, Manny Malhotra and Dan Cloutier -- for Bure. Burke is expected to counter.

Much of Burke's scrum with reporters Wednesday centred on a Toronto Sun column quoting an anonymous Canuck player, who criticized the Vancouver boss for saying he didn't care if his team lost five games in a row.

Burke told The Vancouver Sun last Sunday in the wake of Canuck Alex Mogilny's knee injury that neither five injuries nor five straight losses would make him rush a Bure trade.

Canuck captain Mark Messier, who slammed ex-teammates for "leaking" information to reporters last season, assured Burke before Wednesday's game that no one from inside the dressing room was the source of the Toronto Sun story.

"I don't believe that a player spoke to him," Burke said of the columnist. "I don't believe any player on our team would do that. I had a meeting with players after our final cuts to go through exactly what I expected on the ice and off the ice. That was one of the things I talked about. It's a family. What goes on behind closed doors stays behind closed doors. Our players understand that."

Burke said his remark about five losses has been taken out of context, and emphasized he is quite willing to make a quick deal for lineup help that does not include Bure.

GAME NOTES

THE PAIN DRAIN

Already missing first-line wingers Alex Mogilny and Todd Bertuzzi to injuries, Canucks' second-line centre Peter Zezel suffered a broken nose and concussion when his face hit the ice after he was knocked down in the second period against the Maple Leafs.

"I'm sure it knocks Peter out for a while," Canuck coach Mike Keenan said. "The concussion is more of a concern than the broken nose."

The Canucks were expected to recall rookie centre Matt Cooke from minor-league Syracuse to fill in for Zezel.

MESSIER'S DEFENCE

Canuck captain Mark Messier defended general manager Brian Burke in the wake of newspaper reports that an anonymous player criticized the boss for saying five straight losses would not force him to trade Pavel Bure.

One report quoted a player saying: "We're busting our guts every night and he says he doesn't care if we lose five in a row."

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Flippant Burke talks tough on Bure

In public, the Vancouver Canucks say all the right things. They're rying hard; they're hard hit by injuries; they' can't do anything about holdout Pavel Bure's absence; and so on.

In private, however, they're furious.

The object of their anger is the team's general manager, Brian Burke, who delivered a slap in the face to every one of his players on Monday when he said, "I don't care if we lose five games in a row."

"How do you think we feel about that?" one player asked rhetorically. "We're busting our guts every night and he says he doesn't care if we lose five in a row."

Can anyone believe, even for a second, that Mark Messier wouldn't care if the team lost five in a row? Or coach Mike Keenan?

Both of them have been around far too long to give anything but the most diplomatic of answers to questions of that regard. When pressed on potential player moves yesterday, Keenan simply said, "Ask Brian Burke those questions."

But the fact is everyone on the team, from the players to the assistant coaches to the coach was stung by Burke's statement.

"Look at this," said one, pulling from his pocket a clipping torn out of The Toronto Sun yesterday. "It's in your paper."

One always feels dread on such an occasion. Oh my God, he expects me to defend the ramblings of Jim Hunt.

But on the other side of the page from Hunt's headshot was a story saying Burke had announced he would not be rushed into making a deal for Bure simply because Alex Mogilny suffered a knee injury on Saturday night and is out for at least a month.

"I'm not making a crappy deal because Mogilny got hurt," Burke said. "I don't care if five more guys get hurt and I don't care if we lose five games in a row."

In Burke's defence, he probably does care. And he's not saying he wants to lose, he simply is saying he won't be pushed into a bad deal.

But winning is what his players live for. To them, a flippant statement of that nature is a betrayal, a statement that in order to prove a point, Burke will let the team lose.

Burke's approval rating around the Vancouver room has been rock bottom for quite some time. What he sees as good business, the players see as a power struggle being waged at their expense.

Their suspicion is that Burke, who worked as a National Hockey League vice-president until last summer, still is fighting the league's battles and is trying to make an example of Bure. Burke is convinced that by playing hardball, he is making Bure's life miserable.

There are, however, those who say Burke has misjudged the situation, that Bure has earned something like $25 million US in recent years and that he's having a delightful time travelling around Europe living the good life. If he misses the first half of the schedule, does he really care?

Bure doesn't need the money and almost certainly will be back for the playoffs. So what's the problem? He's going to miss the first 40 games and trips to places like Detroit and Carolina and Ottawa? Big deal.

So we have a situation where two strong-willed people are out to win a confrontation. But the distinction is that Bure obviously doesn't care about the fate of the Canucks. Burke should.

If a general manager looks at his team and sees a top line of Mark Messier, Bill Muckalt and Markus Naslund, isn't there cause for concern? It's not that there's anything wrong with any of these three guys, but wouldn't you have to be awfully out of touch to think that this is a genuine No. 1 line in today's NHL?

"Look at what we've done with this lineup," one player said. "Now Burke says there's no urgency. We're not just missing two injured guys (Mogilny and Todd Bertuzzi). We're missing five guys -- those two and the three Burke should have got for Bure."

The players understand that Burke doesn't want to make "a crappy deal." They're not suggesting that he should. But they know that Keenan, when asked if Burke talks to him about names that might pop up in trade talks says, "No. I'm not hearing about names because there are no names. If there were, I'm sure Brian would talk to me about it."

Therefore, it's clear that Burke isn't out there pushing a deal for Bure. If he were, he would be getting offers and there would be names to talk about.

And that's what the players want. They want Burke to work as hard to make a deal as they're working to win games. So far, he hasn't come close.

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Burke says interest in Bure is growing

OTTAWA -- Vancouver Canuck general manager Brian Burke denied Monday that the trade market for Pavel Bure is shrinking, saying the opposite is true.

"The suggestion that the market is diminishing is completely false," Burke said during a telephone interview from Vancouver. "In fact, two more teams have come in the last week. There are more than five teams involved now."

Some newspaper reports Monday suggested clubs were pulling back from the Bure bidding.

New Jersey Devils' owner John McMullen and Philadelphia Flyers' general manager Bob Clarke have expressed concerns about taking on Bure's $8 million US salary, while managers for the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers have indicated they are unwilling to mortgage the future of their clubs by trading away their best young players.

But Burke, who maintains a policy of refusing to disclose the names of specific clubs and players involved in the trade debate, said interest in Bure continues to build.

He offered "no comment" when asked about a report that the Canucks asked for - and were refused - any two of the Kings' Jozef Stumpel, Glen Murray and Olli Jokinen.

It is believed the Rangers rejected a Canuck request for Niklas Sundstrom, top draft pick Manny Malhotra and netminder Dan Cloutier. Cloutier, whose excellent play has created a goaltending controversy in Manhattan, may now be general manager Neil Smith's netminder of choice. If he is, veteran Mike Richter, whom Burke bid on last summer and who is a favourite of Canuck coach Mike Keenan, may be available.

The Rangers, Kings, Islanders, Flyers and Devils have led the chase for Bure, who refused this season to report to the Canucks in an attempt to bolster his trade demand.

"Taking our time and waiting as we have has worked exactly as we hoped," Burke said. "We've seen more teams come in and we're to the point where we're actually discussing concrete proposals.

"I don't think there's any hazard in waiting too long. If the deal isn't right, we won't make it."

Burke rejoins the Canucks today in Toronto. He spent most of last week in the East, scouting teams and meeting with general managers.

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Pavel keeps fit in spartan conditions.

The Rocket works out in Moscow in spartan conditions

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Russian rocket rush

Canucks general manager Brian Burke spent Friday in Dallas watching the Islanders play the Stars. He also met with Isles GM Mike Milbury.

Burke, who says trade talk for Pavel Bure is heating up, said more than five teams are keenly interested in the Russian Rocket and it's believed the Flyers, despite their protests to the contrary, and the Rangers are the front-runners.

As for the Isles, they apparently have offered free agent Ziggy Palffy straight up for Bure, but were rejected. It's believed Burke would prefer a package of prospects, including defenceman Bryan Berard, but the New York Post reported yesterday that Burke contacted Palffy's agent on Thursday to determine what it would cost to sign him.

Everyone involved is saying speculation of a three-way deal involving the Flyers, Canucks and Isles is false.

But the Flyers and Rangers are definitely interested on their own. Both teams have young goalies they can package in a trade. In addition to those three teams, it's believed the Capitals, Rangers, Blackhawks, Hurricanes and Kings are all kicking the tires.

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Bure's salary doesn't fit Devils' owner's work ethos

New Jersey Devils' owner John McMullen, born in 1918, when Woodrow Wilson was still president of the United States, is one of those old-school types whose philosophy maintains that a man should work an honest day for an honest dollar.

In actual fact, the Devils' player payroll this season is $31 million US -- 11th highest among the league's 27 teams. Not bad for a team which doesn't come close to selling out Continental Airlines Arena.

Still, McMullen has strongly indicated that he doesn't want to send his payroll soaring into the top 10 by trading for the Canucks' suspended star, P.D. Bure. (The P.D. stands for "Perpetually Disgruntled.") The Devils' best-paid player is defenceman Scott Stevens at $4.5 million per, about half of what Bure is scheduled to get.

"Psychologically, I'd say no," says McMullen, who was a pioneer in bringing Russians to the NHL. "If you sign one player at that level [Bure's yearly salary is $8 million plus], you eventually have to raise all others up to it, or up to some percentage of it.

"There's always a player who says, 'I'm 75 per cent as good as he is, therefore I should get 75 per cent as much.' You can't stand it."

Centre Jason Arnott, who would be leading any Jersey bid for Bure, gave Canucks' GM Brian Burke an eyeful Thursday night, scoring one goal and assisting on another as the Devils won 3-2 over Carolina.

"I promise you this: The Vancouver Canucks will not be picking up one dollar of Pavel Bure's salary," Burke told the New York Post.

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Bure D-day in December

If Brian Burke's radar is finely tuned, look for the Vancouver Canucks to drop the Pavel Bure trade bombshell in early December.

Maybe on or about Dec. 7, which just happens to be Peal Harbor Day.

"It's starting to get more interesting now," the Canucks' GM said Nov. 11. "And I expect it's going to heat up considerably in the next two or three weeks. There are no guarantees, but it's possible something will get done by the end of the first week of December."

Bure is at home in Moscow, skating with Central Red Army team. The 'Russian Rocket' is awaiting a trade he forced by declaring, for reasons only known to him, he would never again play for Vancouver.

Burke said no fewer than five NHL clubs have shown interest in Bure, though detailed trade negotiations have yet to begin in earnest.

"I'm not going to lie to you and tell you we're close to a deal, because we're not," Burke told The Hockey News. "We haven't even gotten down to specific names with anybody, but interest has heated up considerably."

Burke's tentative target date may well become a self-fulfilling prophecy because of an internal impetus. Vancouver got off to a respectable 7-6-1 start, but Burke realizes as time marches on the Canucks could be sacrificing valuable points, and ultimately a playoff position, by not getting the yield on a Bure trade into their lineup.

"Clearly, it's a balancing act," Burke said. "You have to weigh the benefits of waiting (to make the trade) against the real posibility we're losing some points right now we could've had if we'd made the trade.

"Mike Keenan has done a terrific job. The media has been great, so have the fans. They understand the delay and where we're at. Now, at what point do we say it's time?"

Early December, it would seem.

Burke, though maintains that oh-so-tentative forecast is the result of external interest as opposed to internal pressure.

He refuses to divulge the identity of the five interested teams, but the worst-kept secret is the two New York teams, the Islanders and Rangers, are at the top of the list. Everybody presumes the Los Angeles Kings are the next most interested suitor, but they're not nearly so hot for Bure as they've been portrayed.

In the first week of November, Kings' owner Phil Anschutz met with his management team, which was tossing around the idea of seriously persuing Bure.

As much as the 'Russian Rocket' might be a boon to the Kings when they move into their new building next year, it was decided at that meeting the Kings would stay their course. That is, continue to develop their own young talent and look into unrestricted free agents in the summer. That doesn't preclude the Kings from getting into the Bure sweepsatkes at some point, but it doesn't appear to be a priority.

The Islanders are the only team to have requested, and received, permission from the Canucks to talk to Bure's agent, Mike Gillis, about what it would cost to sign Bure to a new long-term contract. His current contract expires at the end of this season.

Unsigned Ziggy Palffy, another scoring winger, would be the centerpiece of any Islander deal with the Canucks, but that doesn't address Vancouver's primary needs-center and goal. Many are ruling out the Islanders as a legitimate contender for Bure because of self-imposed financial constraints by new ownership there.

As for the Rangers, they have precisely what the Canucks are looking for in terms of players and prospects. There's young netminder Dan Cloutier or veteran Mike Richter; rookie center Manny Malhotra or established forward Niklas Sandstrom. The Rangers simply have to decide if they're prepared to sacrifice more of their future for a much-needed marquee talent.

Beyond those three teams, it's difficult to come up with clubs who are prepared to pay Bure's salary (which could be in the $8-million range) and/or the acquisition price in terms of players, prospects and/or picks.

When the Bure deal finally gets done-it saya here Burke will be hard pressed to close it by Dec. 7 - expect the Canucks to net themselves two good young players and at least one first round pick.

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Convery a pawn in deal with Kings?

DENVER -- Brandon Convery got his wish and the Los Angeles Kings made a curious move that could be a precursor to a trade. Could that expected deal be with the Canucks for Pavel Bure?

Convery, placed on waivers by Vancouver on Tuesday, was claimed by the Kings after the 48-hour period expired Thursday.

The surprise is that the Kings would pick up a centre when they already have six -- if you count injured Jozef Stumpel, who won't be out much longer with a sprained ankle.

According to sources in Los Angeles, the Kings ownership -- mindful of the need for a marquee player for their move to a new downtown arena next season -- has given the green light to expand the payroll sufficiently to accommodate a salary in Bure's $8 million US-plus stratosphere. The question is whether the Kings can come up with the right package.

With minor league call-up Manny Legace showing he can play in the NHL, the Kings can afford to include highly regarded young goalie Jamie Storr. As well, 19-year-old Finnish rookie Olli Jokinen -- a centre, who's played impressively in Stumpel's absence -- is another player who's name has been speculated as part of a potential package.

"I'm ecstatic," said Convery, who wasn't shy about his displeasure with his lack of ice time in Vancouver. "I didn't know for sure if I was going to get claimed. But when you're from a small town like I am, going to L.A. is about as good as it gets."

Said Dave Nonis, the Canucks' senior vice-president of operations: "Selfishly, I hoped he would clear, but we did let him know when we put him on waivers so he could beat the drum a bit and try to find himself a job." Nonis also said he doesn't think a Bure deal is imminent.

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Pavel trade story doesn't ring true

Pavel Bure can cool his jets -- Brian Burke says he's not close to sending him anywhere just yet.

"We're not close to anything," the Vancouver Canucks president and general manager said Wednesday, denying radio reports that a trade was imminent.

"My phone has been ringing off the hook because ESPN is reporting that a deal is imminent," said Burke. "It's not."

Burke, who's been out East this week attempting to speed up a deal for the suspended Russian right winger, was at Washington on Wednesday watching the Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs. Tuesday he was at Pittsburgh where the Penguins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers.

After the game Burke had a brief closed-door meeting with Flyers counterpart Bobby Clarke.

"No comment" was all Burke would say when asked if anything had come of the conversation with Clarke.

"I'm not making any comments on specific names or teams. The less I say, the better. I hope you understand why I'm being so unco-operative."

Burke said Tuesday's waiving of centre Brandon Convery was not so the club could make way for a soon-to-arrive centre.

And "no comment" was all he'd say when asked if any team other than the New York Islanders had been given permission to talk with Bure's agent, Mike Gillis.

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Give Keenan an equal deal

One of the most amusing aspects of the impending Pavel Bure trade has been watching Canucks general manager Brian Burke and his coach Mike Keenan pretending to be in unison in terms of what the club needs back in the deal.

Burke has said he talks to Keenan every day about the deal and the coach gives Burke a little nudge every day in his discussions with the media, pointing out how much his team needs help despite the early success.

Burke has waited patiently for the pressure to build and judging by the level of desperation in many of the competing cities, he may well have made the right call. Pressure is building on a number of teams, including areas where one might not have expected--like Philadelphia.

But as much as it appears Burke may have been right to wait until this month, Keenan has been watching valuable points slip away in the standings. He's going to watch a few vanish this week. And even if the deal were done today, it will take two or three weeks minimum to get the new players in and meshing with new teammates, weeks which will see more points escape their clutches.

Even if there was action today, Burke and Keenan are clearly not on the same page in this deal and nothing emphasizes this more than a possible bid from the Los Angeles Kings.

Burke is looking at this deal long- term. He knows he will be judged in large part based on this move.

If the Kings were to put together a package and it were to include outstanding defensive prospect Aki Berg, it might be extremely attractive to him. But Berg has already signed with his European club and cannot return to the NHL this season without clearing waivers, which is to say he cannot return.

What good would that offer do Keenan, who will be judged as a coach on how the team does this season. Similarly an offer from the Rangers might well include centre Manny Malhotra, for whom the Canucks have asked. He's going to be a solid player for years to come, but what good is an 18-year-old kid to Keenan? Ditto Kings' youngster Olli Jokinen. All the posturing in the world isn't going to change these facts.

But there is a way to instantly get the coach and GM on the same wave length: Extend Keenan's contract one more year immediately to match the exact term of Burke's deal. Then the two could talk from the heart on the appropriate needs with both coming from the same financial platform. Both would then need to perform in exactly the same time frame. Keenan wouldn't have the feeling he's being hung out to dry while Burke strives for immortality.

This isn't such a big stretch either. Clearly Keenan has shown the ability to adapt his style to the softer '90s and now that he has no management power, he's been better able to cope with the rage inside him which comes with losing. He has this team playing just as hard as it can and if that continues, Burke will have to give him an extension this summer anyway. You can't have a coach going into a season with one year left on his contract and expect him to be effective.

Extending Keenan a year now would only step up the process five months. Is that too much to get Burke and Iron Mike genuinely together on what might well turn out to be the most important trade in club history?

Right now the two have different interests in what comes back for Bure.

It doesn't mean the best trade can't still be made. But it almost certainly lowers the probability.

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Bure auction heads East

Vancouver general manager Brian Burke will meet this week with Eastern Conference teams interested in holdout Pavel Bure.

Following the NHL general managers meetings two weeks ago, Burke cautioned Canucks fans that a Bure trade was at least two weeks away.

Burke still is willing to let Bure continue sitting on his duff in Moscow if the right deal is not offered. The Canucks' 8-6-1 start has allowed Burke to be patient.

"Every time we win, I don't go. 'Now I can make a better trade,' " Burke said. "Our record won't have an impact on the trade. It just keeps the media off my back."

Although he would not reveal the suitors, the Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Flyers likely are pencilled into his appointment book.

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Unhurried GM Burke plans trade mission

This bit of news might pick up Mike Keenan's week.

In an effort to push along the Pavel Bure deal, Canucks general manager Brian Burke will travel east Tuesday and meet with interested parties about a trade.

Burke said he's still willing to let Bure sit if the right deal doesn't come along. But he did note the Canucks' 8-6-1 start has allowed him to make the swap in a relatively calm atmosphere.

"Every time we win, I don't go, 'Now I can make a better trade,''' Burke said. "Our record won't have an impact on the trade. It just keeps the media off my back."

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ROCKET TALKS ON TAP

Philadelphia Flyers have indicated to Brian Burke they will be interested in at least making a pitch for Pavel Bure this week when the Vancouver GM begins sifting seriously through the packages presented.

The Flyers would like very much to unload underachieving centre Chris Gratton who has yet to score this season as well as youthful prospect Dainius Zubrus who is also having trouble at the NHL level.

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Bure working out with Red Army

KINGSTON, Ont. (CP) -- Pavel Bure is skating twice daily with Red Army in Moscow so he'll be ready to play immediately, wherever he lands.

The Russian Rocket, having declined to play for Vancouver, is waiting for the Canucks to trade him, but he's content to bide his time because money is not at issue, says agent Mike Gillis of Kingston.

There's no reason to get impatient," Gillis says. "We hoped something would have happened earlier but we're fully aware of how difficult a trade can be to work out."

Gillis scoffed at reports he's talked to the New York Islanders about a three-year, $21-million US deal if that team could work out a trade with Vancouver.

That story is not right," he said. "I'm not speaking to the Islanders at this time."

Canucks GM Brian Burke says as many as five times have expressed an interest in acquiring Bure.

"It sounds like things are beginning to heat up, but I'm not sure of the time frame," Gillis said.

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Pavel out, Valeri just plays along

CALGARY -- Normally a Canucks-Calgary game turns into a pretty special night for Flames right-winger Valeri Bure.

But, with older brother Pavel suspended and sitting in Moscow awaiting a trade, this was just Game 15 of an 82-game schedule.

"He's pretty frustrated but he'll sit tight," said Valeri of his older brother with whom he talks regularly.

"He's a competitor. He wants to be on the ice. But Vancouver is not the situation for him. It's not very good for hockey. It's not very good for the league or the fans. He should be traded soon.

"Who knows how long it'll take? So many rumours are flying around. Somebody said it'd be done before Christmas but I'll believe it when it happens."

Valeri said he didn't know his brother's reasons for wanting out of Vancouver. And, though it's hard to believe that one, it's not difficult to see that the Flame's support for his brother hasn't diminished by so much as a flicker.

"Whatever his reasons are, I'm totally behind him," Valeri said. "Obviously, I support him. But I wouldn't support him if he changed his mind and went back to Vancouver. Once he makes a statement, that's what he has to do."

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McCabe in fold, now Bure's turn

One soap opera is over and now Brian Burke can tune completely to prime-time.

With young and restless defenceman Bryan McCabe back in the fold, the Canucks general manager will be concentrating on writing a new plot for Pavel's Place.

"It's a big piece of the puzzle to get Bryan McCabe signed and playing," said Burke on Wednesday after the Canucks signed the defenceman to a two-year-plus-option deal Tuesday that could be worth $5 million US if incentives are met.

"But now that that's done, it's the next big piece that has to be moved."

With McCabe shoring up a defence that's been surprisingly competitive without him, getting some assets for the holdout Russian Rocket is the key next move.

Burke already has said he doesn't foresee anything happening in the next two weeks but would be surprised if nothing occurred by Christmas. But he's not planning to travel with the team over the next week and will stick close to the phone in anticipation of the Bure sweepstakes heating up.

"There's more interest out there," said Burke. "The number of teams in it now has increased to more than five. The interest is increasing like we thought."

Burke characterized the discussions he has had over Bure as being preliminary and says he's talked players with only one team. That would be the New York Islanders, although Burke wouldn't confirm that.

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Isles offer Bure $21M deal

PITTSBURGH -- The Islanders have presented Pavel Bure's agent, Mike Gillis, an initial contract offer - a three-year package that begins with this season, worth in excess of $21 million, the Post has learned.

Meanwhile, it's also learned that another Eastern Conference team has joined the Islanders and Rangers in the Bure sweepstakes and is emerging as a frontrunner.

The Post reported last week that the Isles will only pull off a Bure for Ziggy Palffy swap if they tentatively agree to a contract extension with the agent. GM/coach Mike Milbury and president David Seldin were given permission by Vancouver to speak to Gillis, whose client is in the final year of his contract that could pay him anywhere between $6.8M and $8.3M depending upon it's interpretation. The contract's interpretation has been in dispute between the Isles and Gillis.

That's become a moot point because league sources told The Post the Isles are willing to rip up the final year of his contract and start anew. They have offered Bure a three-year deal that averages in excess of $7M per season. However, that range could be misleading because this season's base is to be pro-rated. The specific base pay for this season was not revealed. Already, the suspended Bure has missed moe than a one-sixth of the season.

Bure's 1998-99 current salary depend on goals scored, which is lessening the contract's worth significantly with every game he misses. It is doubtful Bure can reach 45 goals this season, which means he would be paid the average of the top seven players. That comes out to roughly $6.8M before being pro-rated.

Gillis is seeking a three-year deal in the $26M range.

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McCabe signed, Bure trade next on Burke's plate

There appear to be no hard feelings after the Vancouver Canucks ended the long and difficult process of re-signing defenceman Bryan McCabe on Tuesday morning.

With McCabe's contract out of the way, Burke said he will now focus his efforts on the Pavel Bure trade talks. Having already received one offer, which he turned down last week, Burke said there are five teams -- and he expects a few more to jump in -- involved in what he referred to as "The Sweepstakes."

Burke, however, will continue to bide his time, saying a potential trade is still a couple of weeks away at the very least.

"We're going to hang in until we get the right deal," he said. "And if we don't get the right deal, this guy's going to sit."

In the end, Burke described the most likely scenario for a deal involving the Canucks getting back two or three "sevens" in exchange for Bure, who is considered a "10."

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The system must change to get holdouts on the ice

Several high-profile players, such as Ziggy Palffy, Pavel Bure and Sandis Ozolinsh, are still involved in contract disputes. And the league is suffering.

Recently there have been several well-publicized negative comments from NHL general managers about these players and their agents. There always is the possibility of people making disparaging comments when relationships become somewhat fractured. When you're in contract negotiations, each side is trying to test the other.

There's also a broader perspective and influence because the union is trying to give players support to expand their earning potential, while management is being supported by the league to try to bring salaries into a different, more reasonable range.

The league as a whole is suffering.

There are two sides to every story, and the truth is somewhere in the middle. Negotiations have to be carried on and brought to fruition because ultimately the game and the league hurt.

Some of the best players in the world are not playing right now, and if all these players were back with their teams, it would improve the league overall.

The fans would benefit as well as the teams.

But at least there are business negotiations going on right now. That's certainly better than the alternative, which we saw in 1994 with the strike. However, there are pressure points that both sides are feeling.

Some general managers are trying to hold firm in their negotiations with players. The objective of this is to reduce the cost for owners. But each club has to deal with each situation on an individual basis. The needs of each club are quite different; the needs a New York City team would have are quite a bit different than what the needs might be in Montreal. So all of the disputes can't really be evaluated on a broad basis.

All the problems, however, point to the fact the system has to be rectified. Management would argue a good system is in place right now: It's set up to ensure there is a drag on salaries. On the other hand, there is the pressure the union is putting on the players to push the envelope farther, to raise the salary limits and establish a stronger marketplace for themselves.

All parties have to realize there is a financial base you have to work from. While players might not be able to establish the marketplace they want for Group II free agents right now, eventually they will get their money in free agency. That's the tradeoff for the players -- at 31, they can go out and get money that exceeds their ability.

The Canucks, of course, are involved in contract negotiations with Bure. From a practical point of view, it hurts our team -- it hurts any team to not have players on the ice. Missing players of that caliber definitely hurts the depth and ability of the team. And if each team is hurt significantly by having some of its best players out, then it impacts the league.

For a team trying to play around a holdout player, it could be compared to a time when you have one of your best players injured. It gives other people opportunities, and that in itself sometimes results in terrific finds, players who hadn't been given an opportunity before suddenly rising to the occasion or maturing and building confidence because of the ice time they're receiving.

So there is an upside to having a holdout player in that it might be a discovery opportunity for coaches and managers. You can give some individuals a chance to play who normally wouldn't have that opportunity.

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Time right for Bure deal

I feel this is the week that Brian Burke pulls the trigger on the Pavel Bure deal. Don't ask me why, I feel it's just the right time.

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So few try to please

Canucks general manager Brian Burke is telling us there are five teams interested in landing Pavel Bure.

While some may disappear upon learning Bure has no interest in signing with their team at the end of the season, it should certainly be taken as a positive for Vancouver fans if there are as many as five serious suitors.

For a moment, put aside that Burke should now get more as a result and consider a broader issue.

Isn't it nice to know at least five teams are willing to consider investing in their businesses? Isn't it nice to know there are at least five teams willing to consider the possibility that spending money to earn more is a reasonable business proposition? Isn't it nice to know there are at least five are willing to uplift the quality of entertainment their fans are receiving by looking for the best player, not the cheapest?

This is an era where the owners and GMs have become obsessed with the cost side of the business. As presently constituted, it is virtually impossible to conceive of the Calgary Flames doing something to stimulate interest and make going to the Saddledome more than just some corporate outing. They can't even consider hanging on to the star they have in Theoren Fleury.

Instead, the Flames invest in illusion. They tell their fans they are building the 'young guns.' They try to convince the people of Calgary these young players will grow up together and, with luck, go on to a championship. In fact, at least two or three will gain arbitration rights or free agency and leave long before any such fantasy could be realized.

The same thing happens here.

John McCaw's vision of a Stanley Cup, so prevalent here 18 months ago, has been kidnapped by cost conscious minions that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman convinced McCaw to hire.

Suddenly, Orca Bay's hockey operation must show a profit by itself. Every move is made to lop more off the cost side without so much as a thought to how key spending by a GM you trust might make McCaw's dream come true. With free agents like Mike Richter and Brett Hull available, McCaw settles for Murray Baron. The Canucks have become the Flames. And people wonder why Bure wants out...?

It's not just in Canada. How many teams are really trying to get better? How few are actually trying to win? After Philadelphia, Dallas, Detroit and the hopelessly out of it but still trying New York Rangers, how many teams have even given the Cup a thought?

New Jersey has a very strong team because of exceptional drafting and GM Lou Lamoriello's power of persuasiveness. But do they take the next step to allow them to take a serious win at another Cup, even though owner John McMullen doesn't have many years left? Never.

Buffalo, Boston, Chicago and Anaheim are profitable others who could do more for fans.

So, five teams. When it's all over, Burke should publicly proclaim them, so these owners might have our respect.

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Canucks close to Bure deal

It appears Canucks GM Brian Burke is getting closer to moving holdout Pavel Bure. "I think we're two weeks away," Burke said this week. There were whispers earlier this week of a Bure-for-Zigmund Palffy swap. But the Isles are being accused of starting that rumour to create some excitement for their sagging franchise. Besides, how could the ownership, which has refused to budge off its $4.5-million US a season offer to Palffy, afford Bure, who would make $8-million plus? Burke did spend part of the Devils-Rangers game last Tuesday talking with Rangers GM Neil Smith.

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Teams starting to line up in Bure sweepstakes

When Pavel Bure first issued his trade ultimatum and walked out on the Vancouver Canucks, general manager Brian Burke predicted rival NHL clubs would fall over themselves bidding for the superstar scorer.

Then he sat back and discovered no one was rushin' at his Rocket.

So it was on to Plan B, which meant waiting for teams to stumble from the gate and become more desperate. The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings have certainly obliged - neither has any offence - while the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders are usually interested in anything involving the Rangers.

Burke is pleased at the developing market.

"We want as many teams in the sweepstakes as possible," the Canuck GM said Wednesday. "The best chance for us to get the best deal possible depends on the number of teams involved. If we get five or seven teams involved, obviously that's to our benefit.

"It's heating up like I thought it would but right now we're not close to anything and nothing that's been thrown at me excites me to this point. I don't think anything is going to happen in the very near future."

Despite the Zigmund Palffy-Islander speculation, the Rangers remain the most likely destination for Bure. Ranger head coach John Muckler was crying out for goals earlier this week and his troops responded with just one in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the defensively challenged Montreal Canadiens.

The bottom-feeding Rangers have a laughable 18 goals in 12 games. Niklas Sundstrom, Adam Graves, the injured Alexei Kovalev and young goaltender Dan Cloutier are all believed to be available. As well, the excitable New York media is imploring GM Neil Smith to grab Bure before someone else does.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, has been shut out in three of its last four games and is averaging less than two goals per contest.

"I'm not going to comment on any of the specific teams or players involved," Burke said. "I don't think that's the best way to do a deal. I won't comment on whether I have an interest in Palffy [an unsigned free agent] or not because that's tampering. But I will say I'm not interested in taking on a player who is unsigned."

According to a New York report Wednesday, Islander president David Seldin is once again attempting to get Palffy under contract with the idea of keeping him rather than moving him.

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Burke, be patient

Far be it from me to tell Brian Burke he should copy one of the downfalls of his mentor Pat Quinn and be overly patient, but in the case of Pavel Bure, he should.

Burke says he wants to hit a home run in this trade because it will have huge ramifications on this franchise for years to come ... and he's right.

But not even Mark McGwire could hit one out of the ball park only three weeks into the season and I don't care what drugs

McGwire's on, he wouldn't trade Bure for Ziggy Palffy. Why would Burke trade an unhappy Russian for an unhappy Czech even up? All he'd be doing is trading one head case for another.

The Canucks right now are playing better than they looked at any time last year and they don't have the most difficult schedule coming up. If you break down the season into 10-game segments the Canucks record would be 5-4-1. And, while that's not exactly setting the league on fire, if you told the Canucks they would be over .500 without Bure and Bryan McCabe they'd have taken the points and run.

If you took away another team's equivalent of Bure and McCabe many would have a tough time playing .500. Right now the Red Wings are on a three-game losing streak, but how long would it be if they were without Steve Yzerman and Niclas Lidstrom?

The thing with the Canucks right now is they are working hard and for longer stretches then they have in the past. At least you can see a future with the kids they are going with. You can see some pride coming back into the team.

And you're going to see lots of mistakes as well. It would be foolish to think they can stay above .500 all year with this lineup. But the longer they can go with the kids and get the surprising goaltending Garth Snow and Corey Hirsch are giving them the better the trade they can make for Bure.

In the meantime, they need Alexander Mogilny to start playing with some consistency and to show up more often. Because of the lack of depth on the blueline they have to spend more time working with Bret Hedican. He has all the tools and the skating ability to be a top defenceman, but too many nights he looks like a rookie and you honestly have to wonder if he will ever take his game to the next level.

If they can turn those two around and somehow bring McCabe and his demands back down to earth then whatever they get for Bure will be coming to a team that has a pretty decent nucleus. Unfortunately you can't take what-ifs to the bank.

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Air heads love Bure talk

When they're not busy trying to locate their lives, the phone-in show junkies live for moments like this. The local star is on the trading block. The air is already thick with rumours. Multiple suitors, both real and imagined, have been identified.

It is their fantasy come true, their own personal 1-800 number. And it doesn't cost $3.99 a minute. The Pavel Bure trade talks are now a matter of public record. The airwaves are no longer safe. And you will hear many strange and wonderful things between now and the time Bure is dealt.

Let us, then, try to be the voice of reason here. Let us impart some sober, dispassionate judgment on the debate. Bure will not be traded for Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and the Louisiana territory. But we do know a couple of other things.

At least we think we know.

- Whether it's by design or good fortune, Canucks general manager Brian Burke is in the happy position of putting Bure on a sellers' market. The prevailing noise has the Rangers and Islanders as the most interested parties, but NHL sources say there are five teams interested in the Russian Rocket. While we wouldn't take this to the bank, we'd guess you could throw New Jersey, Washington and Los Angeles into the mix.

Most of the players' names, by now, you're familiar with. There's the Dan Cloutier-Niklas Sundstrom package in New York. The Rangers also might cough up a first-round pick if they can swing one from San Jose for Adam Graves. Ordinarily, you wouldn't think Adam Graves would be worth a first-rounder but these are the Sharks we're talking about and they aren't exactly predictable.

The Islanders, meanwhile, are dangling Ziggy Palffy, although they'll have to raise the ante to get Bure. Washington has Sergei Gonchar. The Devils we don't know about, although Scott Niedermayer's name is certainly intriguing. The Kings can wade in with an attractive package of youngsters.

- For the Canucks, that's the good news. The bad news is they aren't the only sellers anymore. In addition to the terminally disgruntled Petr Nedved, the rather imposing figure of Jaromir Jagr has appeared on the landscape. Jagr is one of the four or five NHLers who occupy the same rarified air as Bure and his presence further tightens an already exclusive target market.

Which one would you rather have? Now there's a topic for a phone-in show. But there are only a handful of teams that even can contemplate the question.

The Canucks still believe there are enough interested buyers to ensure a good deal. For their sake, they'd better hope so.

- No matter what happens, the most compelling aspect of the Bure auction will be its effect on the curious relationship between Burke and head coach Mike Keenan. Keenan -- how can we put this delicately? -- has never been confused with a patient man. He's already registered his feelings on the current condition of the Canucks' lineup and he is not eager to take part in a rebuilding process.

If Keenan's making this deal, he cashes the Bure chip in on known commodities, not futures. Cloutier, a blue-chip goaltending prospect who'd played all of 12 NHL games before this season, doesn't interest him. Sundstrom, a decent second-liner who doesn't begin to replace Bure's production, doesn't interest him.

Keenan wants to win and he wants to win yesterday. Will Burke accommodate him? Don't know. But that's another one they can kick around the talk shows.

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Trade talks Zig-zag

With the coals starting to glow under the Pavel Bure trade talks, Brian Burke is patiently waiting to get the maximum number of spits twirling on the barbeque.

The Canucks general manager continues to decline comment on reports he has had serious discussions with the New York Islanders involving a deal for the Russian Rocket that would see unsigned winger Ziggy Palffy come this way. But a source close to the Isles said Wednesday that the club's interest in Bure remains serious and that a big issue is what else the Isles would surrender along with Palffy for Bure.

According to the source, the Isles aren't willing to throw in more than a fringe player -- which likely would not get the deal done from the Canucks' perspective.

Burke, who returned Wednesday from NHL meetings in New York, downplayed speculation that a deal was coming soon for the suspended Bure.

"There are teams that are stepping up now," said Burke. "It's heating up, but there's nothing imminent. I don't see anything happening in the near future. Nothing that's been thrown at me excites me."

Whether it was for the benefit of potential trading partners or not, Burke reiterated that he won't let the Canucks' performance affect his judgment about when to pull the trigger.

"There's a balancing act going on here," said Burke. "Obviously, we want as many teams in the sweepstakes as possible. That gives us the best chance to get the best deal available. If we can get five teams, seven teams involved, obviously that's to our benefit.

"But by waiting for the best deal, I'm making Mike (coach Keenan) and our fans and our players play without the assets we're going to get in that deal. I don't think I'll be making this deal at the (March 23) trading deadline, but I'm not in a hurry, either.

"I don't care what our record is. This deal's going to make sense or it's not going to happen."

Palffy, 26, is unsigned and wants a deal that would pay him $6 million US a year, with the Isles offering $4.3 million. Burke has said he wouldn't trade for an unsigned player, but deals such as this usually include some behind-the-scenes discussions beforehand.

Palffy has been one of the league's top scorers the last three seasons. The Slovak right winger had 45 goals last season, which was preceded by seasons of 48 and 43. Not big, at 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, Palffy is fast and also passes the puck well. He led the NHL in power-play goals last season with17.

Canucks goalie Garth Snow faced Palffy numerous times when he was with Philadelphia and has great regard for the Isles' sniper.

"He's a great player, especially on special teams," said Snow. "Elite players like him see the ice a little bit differently than most guys. He can shoot the puck, obviously, and he's also a great passer."

- There appears to be some action regarding unsigned defenceman Bryan McCabe. Canucks negotiator Dave Nonis spoke with McCabe's agent, Jeff Solomon, on Wednesday to set up a phone discussion today. The Canucks have offered about $1.5 million US per annum on a three-year deal, while the McCabe side is asking for about $1.7 million US on a two-year deal.

- Keenan said he hoped centre Peter Zezel (hip-flexor) could be back by the weekend, while winger Brad May (groin) is more likely to return sometime next week. Snow (hip-flexor) is to skate today to assess if he can return Saturday against Nashville.

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Burke mum on Bure rumors

Vancouver Canucks general manager Brian Burke is usually adamant in denying any trade rumour involving disgruntled Russian forward Pavel Bure.

But instead of saying no, Burke simply refused to talk Tuesday about the possibility of Bure going to the New York Islanders in exchange for unsigned restricted free agent Zigmund Palffy.

"I'm not commenting," Burke said from New York, where he is attending the NHL general managers' meeting.

Paul Kraus, Palffy's agent, called the trade "a logical thing."

"I haven't spoken to Mr. Burke nor have I got any indication from the Islanders the trade is imminent," Kraus said from his office in Edmonton.

One NHL source said the Islanders and Canucks have been talking since training camp.

Any deal could be a three-way exchange between Vancouver, New York and Toronto, the source said.

Vancouver would send Bure and Alexander Mogilny to Islanders. New York would then ship Mogilny to Toronto for goaltender Felix Potvin.

Money could be a major stumbling block in any deal.

Bure, a 50-goal scorer three times during his seven years in Vancouver, is scheduled to earn $8 million US this season.

Palffy, who had 42 goals and 87 points last year with the Islanders, has rejected an offer from New York similar to the two-year, $7.75-million deal the Edmonton Oilers agreed to with Doug Weight.

"Why would (the Islanders) pay for Bure if they can get Ziggy for less?" asked Kraus.

"That's the question that doesn't make sense for me."

One answer could be that Bure would help sell tickets and bring fans to Islanders games.

In the past Burke has said he won't trade Bure until he's offered the right deal.

But, with the Canucks hovering around the .500 mark, pressure is growing on Burke to sign or trade defenceman Bryan McCabe, a restricted free agent who refused to report this year, and make a deal for Bure.

After a recent loss coach Mike Keenan bemoaned the lack of depth on the Canucks. Many interpreted this as a subtle prod at Burke.

Since that loss, the Canucks have lost goaltender Garth Snow (out a week, hip flexor), forward Todd Bertuzzi (eight to 10 weeks, fractured left tibia), Peter Zezel (hip) and Brad May (groin).

Bure has never been specific about why he wants out of Vancouver, although there has been a suggestion he finds the city too much of a fishbowl for a star hockey player. The Islanders might be attractive to him because he could be reunited with his close friend Gino Odjick and former teammate Trevor Linden.

It had been reported that the Isles were trying to cut salaries but recent reports have suggested the team has given GM Mike Milbury the go-ahead to pay a Bure.

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N.Y. minutes: Palffy-Bure

The tongues are wagging vigorously.

With Brian Burke and Dave Nonis in New York for the NHL general managers meetings and both slated to be in attendance at the Islanders game Monday night, there was mountains of speculation a Pavel Bure for Zigmund Palffy deal was being discussed.

While it's extremely unlikely Vancouver would trade for an unsigned player, the free agent Slovak could be quickly signed and swapped if the Canucks were willing to trade apples for apples and take Palffy, who is currently working out in his homeland.

The teams discussed a Bure trade at the deadline last season but it was believed the Canucks, under Mike Keenan's management, were more interested in defenceman Bryan Berard.

Sources in New York claim Isles general manager Mike Milbury has been given the go-ahead to spend the money it would take to bring a player like Bure to the Island, owners Howard Milstein and Stephen Gluckstern apparently keen to demonstrate they are not such tightwads as they have been portrayed.

Bure would almost certainly report to the Islanders given friend Gino Odjick and former teammate Trevor Linden are there, but whether he would be keen to re-sign at the end of the season when he becomes a restricted free agent would depend on the direction of the team.

Milbury feels he has a promising group of young players and he's looking to both add some firepower and excitement to his lineup in order to bring fans back to the Nassau Coliseum.

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Bure's buddy Gino wants to reunite

The latest rumour out of New York has the Islanders and the Canucks talking trade.

Pavel Bure for Zigmund Palffy? Don't bet on it, but even the hint of such a swap is enough to get Isles right winger Gino Odjick excited about having his buddy back by his side again.

"I don't want to tell Mike Milbury (Isles GM/head coach) how to do his job but it'd be great if they brought him here," Odjick told the New York Post Sunday. "To sell out (an arena) sometimes you have to bring in the show."

A trade of the suspended Russian for the Slovak is a stretch. The Isles are trying to get Palffy signed but are only willing to pay in the $4 million range and Palffy flatly rejected that when Milbury went to Europe last week to present the deal.

And then there's the matter of the new, shorter lease the NHL club is trying to negotiate with Nassau County. Don't expect anything major to happen until that gets finalized.

But Odjick still dreams and phones Moscow regularly to talk to Bure. Apparently, he's in a New York frame of mind.

"It doesn't matter about the Rangers or here," said Odjick. "He'd like to come to Long Island. I'm here. Trevor's (ex-Canuck Trevor Linden) here."

Odjick thinks the addition of Bure would make the Islanders a very strong club.

"Pavel's not a guy who takes up a lot of room in the locker room. (With Bure) this would be a better team than the Canucks team in 1994," Odjick said of the 1993-94 team that lost in the Stanley Cup final to the Rangers.

"We have a better defence than that team, there's more depth at centre and we have four lines that can play."

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BURE UPDATE:

There has been a lot of confusion about Pavel Bure's contract. Here's the deal. Because he popped 50 goals last year, his salary must be in the top seven in the league. If he gets 50 again this year, he must be in top three. If he gets 40 goals this year, he must be in the top five.
At the moment, he's in Europe and while Vancouver Canucks coach Mike Keenan screams about the missing talent, general manager Brian Burke insists that he's not worried about Bure's absence because it saves the team money.
That's curious logic, unless you think that the purpose of a hockey team is not to win but to save money. And if Burke thinks it's such an admirable concept, why doesn't he dump all his players and use amateurs?

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