The (Unofficial) End of Pavel Bure
Over at Canucks Corner, Tom Benjamin notes that, although there has been no announcement, the NHL has likely seen the last of Pavel Bure.
According to a story published last summer, several teams contacted Bure's agent to inquire about his services. They were told that he doesn't want to go through the reconstructive knee surgery required for him to resume his career.
Tom says the Russian Rocket deserves a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame, "but the image created for him by the Vancouver media may work against his induction." Bure was painted as an egocentric mercenary in 1998, when he forced the Canucks to trade him to Florida.
The Bure reputation was not entirely media-created. In a rare departure from the hockey player code of conduct, several Florida Panthers openly criticized Bure after he was dealt to the Rangers in 2001. ""Look, I'm not the best player in the world, but I'm going to try hard," said Bill Lindsay. "And I've got to come and watch a guy that makes $30 million (US) come to the rink last and leave first."
Is this a reason to leave a man off a Hall of Fame ballot? Not based on precedent. We would like to think of a Hall of Fame player as a guy who gave it his all every night. But who are we to say?
The other argument against Bure is his short career, just 702 NHL games. But he scored well over 400 goals. Clark Gillies is in the Hall of Fame. So is Bernie Ferderko. Neither of them played over 1,000 games, and how often did they bring a stadium to its feet with a brilliant breakaway goal?
A Hockey Hall of Fame that honours Federko and Gillies but makes Pavel Bure buy a ticket to get in - would such an institution have any credibility?
Comments
Since when do the media ever put anyone in a good light. No matter what anyone says Pavel Bure is a superstar in everones eyes and he is more than worthy of the hall of fame, hios name was inspiration, his skating amazing, his stickhandling astounding, an he may be gone from the game, but his name is a memory etched on the hearts of his dedicated fans…#10 Bure all time MVP
He was the best while it lasted…
Pavel deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He did his best while he was on ice, he was bringing good crowd to the rink in every city he played. It is not his fault he got season ending enjuries. Who else is going to be another Russian Rocket? That’s a legend.
Bure,to me is more then a name to me hes a ..Best Russian Player ever. ever since I started to play Hockey I always thought to my self donut give up, don’t and maybe ill be in Bure’s shoes one day, To me he is more the a player hes a inspiration, well miss you #10, and good luck in Russia.
Bernie Federko did play in over 1000 games.. He also scored over 1000 points… where are you getting your facts from ???? maybe you should think before you write.