Revisiting the Pavel Bure trade

[CasusBelli]

Btw who makes a thread about Pavel Bure and doesn't post any videos? That's crazy talk.

This is gorgeous. I liked the interviews they had with former players and coaches as well. Adds some objectivity to people who say “McDavid is the best ever” (because he’s all they’ve seen) or “Bure is obviously better” (because of childhood memories). One thing I think is hard to deny: no one during my lifetime made scoring look so eas and so beautifully. We’re not talking about crashing the net or dirty goals. We’re talking fluidity and skills it’s just ... unbelievable.

 

[Machinehead]

I was there....literally......so I'll give the recount.

It was a very strange feeling almost like if you're in a car accident because the adrenaline was high but something wasn't right. The Rangers had got Bure...but traded Mike York earlier in the day. When the announcer said the scratches and York's name for the last time (since he was traded at deadline he was still technically on the roster after 12 PM) there was this sadness. Look the crowd boo'd Tom Poti a lot because they loved Mike York.

The general mood at the time was the team still stunk and was a Ron Low product so even if Bure went full NHL 94 Jeremy Roenick, the team wasn't going to outgun enough on most nights to win.

Bure scored that game and of course the Rangers lost because Low while a nice guy was not an NHL head coach. They flashed his pic on the Jumbo Tron (pre-Garden Vision) and he was boo'd with the "Low Must Go" chant.

Bure was electric and did his best. He probably would have played a few years longer if the Rangers actually had some semblance of a team that looked out for him instead of Sandy McCarthy trying to score goals or Kristaf Oliwa or whoever.

The trade wasn't that bad it was just annoying giving up a pick (turned into Eric Nystrom ironically who had a decent bottom six NHL career).

Back in those dark ages the Rangers had no time for development. Guys like Martin Richter and Filip Novak would look solid in preseason yet never get a call. It was frustrating. There was one point a season or two later when Dale Purinton was suspended, Leetch was injured, and there were a grand total of zero home grown players in the lineup. Larry Brooks ripped them.

So the overall verdict on Bure: it was a moment and he was electric but it should have lasted longer. Him on the post lockout teams playing with Ruccin and Rucinsky/Straka on the second line could have been fun.

Yeah, I remember Mike York. He wasn't any good anywhere else but it just worked here. That hurt us.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

This is gorgeous. I liked the interviews they had with former players and coaches as well. Adds some objectivity to people who say “McDavid is the best ever” (because he’s all they’ve seen) or “Bure is obviously better” (because of childhood memories). One thing I think is hard to deny: no one during my lifetime made scoring look so eas and so beautifully. We’re not talking about crashing the net or dirty goals. We’re talking fluidity and skills it’s just ... unbelievable.

I would think McDavid is the better player but worse goal scorer.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I think the problem I had with the Bure trade then and still have now was the thinking behind it. While it turns out the Rangers really didn't give up a lot (Novak never panned out) and Bure was really good here, it was yet another "we're one player away" moves that rarely pan out. And that team really wasn't close.

 

[CasusBelli]

I would think McDavid is the better player but worse goal scorer.

Definitely. Bure was an excellent playmaker as well -- but that's not what he got paid to do, and there were players who outdid him in that department, though he was the top pure goal scorer during his time.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Definitely. Bure was an excellent playmaker as well -- but that's not what he got paid to do, and there were players who outdid him in that department, though he was the top pure goal scorer during his time.

Compared to Ovechkin he's showtime though. The second half of Ovi's career he's been the most boring prolific goal scorer of all time.

 

[Thirty One]

I think the problem I had with the Bure trade then and still have now was the thinking behind it. While it turns out the Rangers really didn't give up a lot (Novak never panned out) and Bure was really good here, it was yet another "we're one player away" moves that rarely pan out. And that team really wasn't close.

They thought they were one player away from the playoffs and that was enough.

The next "one player" they would bring in would prove to be huge, though.

 

[CasusBelli]

Compared to Ovechkin he's showtime though. The second half of Ovi's career he's been the most boring prolific goal scorer of all time.

Sounds about right. His first few years were something else. "The Goal" against Arizona was just unbelievable. The look on Gretzky's face when he saw that on the Jumbotron was priceless! Now he's more of a pure finisher and powerplay specialist. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- he's an amazing goal scorer -- but the entertainment value isn't what it used to be.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Sounds about right. His first few years were something else. "The Goal" against Arizona was just unbelievable. The look on Gretzky's face when he saw that on the Jumbotron was priceless! Now he's more of a pure finisher and powerplay specialist. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- he's an amazing goal scorer -- but the entertainment value isn't what it used to be.

He's the NHL's equivalent of Reggie Miller.

 

[CasusBelli]

He's the NHL's equivalent of Reggie Miller.

That reference makes me feel old.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

That reference makes me feel old.

I was thinking of saying Steph Curry, but I think Curry is more exciting.

 

[Maximus]

Forget Gretzky, Lemieux, Lindros when it comes to Bure as Bure was a totally different animal.

For current purposes, best comparisons to Bure are McDavid and MacKinnon as I mentioned previously.

For old time hockey purposes and for a comparator as far as excitement level, I'd go with Bobby Orr. I watched some Bobby Orr highlights last night when he was in his prime and when he could skate like the wind. Bure reminds me of him. Gretzky and Lemieux are too slow to remind me of Bure. Lindros is the closest big guy I'd agree that compares to Bure maybe Messier as well.

Bobby Orr tho is the best one for me vis a vis Bure.

 

[CasusBelli]

Forget Gretzky, Lemieux, Lindros when it comes to Bure as Bure was a totally different animal.

For current purposes, best comparisons to Bure are McDavid and MacKinnon as I mentioned previously.

For old time hockey purposes and for a comparator as far as excitement level, I'd go with Bobby Orr. I watched some Bobby Orr highlights last night when he was in his prime and when he could skate like the wind. Bure reminds me of him. Gretzky and Lemieux are too slow to remind me of Bure. Lindros is the closest big guy I'd agree that compares to Bure maybe Messier as well.

Bobby Orr tho is the best one for me vis a vis Bure.

This is spot on for my money.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Certainly true. But as Edge correctly points out, both Gretzky and Maryo very fluidly made things happen. Bure and Lindros did things at warp speed. And neither Gretzky or Lemieux had quite the elbow that Bure did.

Yeah, but Lemieux had that King Kong toying with puny humans thing that was terrifying to behold.

 

[True Blue]

Forget Gretzky, Lemieux, Lindros when it comes to Bure as Bure was a totally different animal.

You forget just how quickly Lindros moved. His speed, hand speed and vision were unparalleled. Along with a nasty disposition and a rocket of a shot, he was as close to the total package is it got.

 

[True Blue]

Yeah, but Lemieux had that King Kong toying with puny humans thing that was terrifying to behold.

Not against Erixon he did not

 

[Synergy27]

I had the pleasure of being on a little road trip thru eastern Canada with a couple of buddies in March of 2002. Ended up catching Pavel’s first game as a Ranger at the then Corel Center, and luck would have it that he scored a goal. Really cool experience and a great memory.

No idea what the Ottawa arena is like nowadays, but at the time, it couldn’t have been more different than MSG. I was seated next to an actively breast feeding mother, who was very into the game by the way. Super nice, fun to talk to people. The walk to and from the car was some of the most bitter cold I have ever experienced.

 

[Thirty One]

I had the pleasure of being on a little road trip thru eastern Canada with a couple of buddies in March of 2002. Ended up catching Pavel’s first game as a Ranger at the then Corel Center, and luck would have it that he scored a goal. Really cool experience and a great memory.

No idea what the Ottawa arena is like nowadays, but at the time, it couldn’t have been more different than MSG. I was seated next to an actively breast feeding mother, who was very into the game by the way. Super nice, fun to talk to people. The walk to and from the car was some of the most bitter cold I have ever experienced.

I think that would have been his second game. Poti's first game, which was obviously a big moment too.

 

[Maximus]

You forget just how quickly Lindros moved. His speed, hand speed and vision were unparalleled. Along with a nasty disposition and a rocket of a shot, he was as close to the total package is it got.

If you read a bit further in my comments, I did say of all the big guys, Lindros is closest in excitement level too Bure. But yes I agree Lindros in his prime and for his size was the closest thing to a perfect hockey player than anyone I ever saw.

 

[Jauffre]

My first ever NHL game he scored the OT winner against the Mighty Ducks, immediately asked for a Bure hat lol. It was cool seeing him a Rangers jersey, and he performed well. I still remember the penalty shot goal against the Preds like it was yesterday. He scored some beauties for us too and was PPG during his time here IIRC.

If there's one player I wish we had during prime years, it's Bure.

 

[Synergy27]

I think that would have been his second game. Poti's first game, which was obviously a big moment too.

Yeah, memory a bit foggy at this point. I remember that the trade had just happened. It was an awesome stroke of luck.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

Here’s an amazing video that I’m sure 99% of this board hasn’t seen. Bure’s 5 goal game in the 1998 Olympics against Finland. Just ridiculous. On a side note, look at all of the Hall of Famers in this game.

 

[Hire Sather]

Imagine sending Dale Purinton out in overtime

What a goal this was though. Also my favorite Bure memory

 

[leetch99]

Magic

LOL...rocket fuel ! He had a HUGE set of legs . Likely could have jumped out of a pool if they had thought of it back then....with Cliff Ronning draped on his back....smallest guy I could think of LOL...

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Imagine sending Dale Purinton out in overtime

What a goal this was though. Also my favorite Bure memory

I used to post on the official Rangers board starting as a 14 year old in 2000 until some douche named Jimbosam drove me away from that board. I still remember Levitate from it. Anyway, there was this one guy who was reasonable in every other way but he LOVED Purinton. Who was it that loved McIlrath here, Beacon? It was like that but weirder because even back then Purinton was conidered garbage, even by 2000 standards and by the standards of one of the worst defensive teams in Rangers history.