Pavel Bure takes part in a press conference at the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 12, 2012 in Toronto (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The hockey world was buzzing with excitement as the NHL unveiled its newest creation—the Four Nations Face-Off. Fans across North America eagerly anticipated the spectacle, knowing that the best players in the world would take the ice. But for Pavel Bure, the legendary Russian Rocket, there was something missing.
“It’s a great competition for the fans,” he admitted in an RG interview. “But without Russia, it’s not complete. A Canada-Russia matchup would be something special—people all over the world would tune in to watch. Still, the Four Nations Face-Off is an exciting event. Professionals in Russia are closely following the tournament”.
The Gravitas of the Montreal Canadiens
Bure’s passion for international hockey wasn’t just talk. He had experienced firsthand what it meant to play on the biggest stages. He recalled his first-ever goal against an NHL team, back in 1990. The Montreal Canadiens had come to Moscow for the Club Super Series, and a 19-year-old Bure found himself staring down one of the greatest goalies of all time, Patrick Roy.
“I had heard so much about the NHL teams, but I had never seen them play in person,” he reminisced. “And suddenly, there they were—the most famous hockey team in North America. I ran out, took my shot, and scored. It was a huge moment for me.”
Years later, Bure found himself on the other side of the hockey world, dazzling crowds in Canada as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. He was no stranger to the passionate fan base, but one thing still caught him off guard.
“When we played Montreal in Vancouver, about 30 percent of the stadium was cheering for the Canadiens,” he chuckled.
“It didn’t matter where they played—Montreal had fans everywhere. They told me, ‘Pasha, we love Vancouver, but when you play the Canadiens, we root for them.’”
His time in Canada was filled with unforgettable memories. His first NHL All-Star Game took place in Montreal, where he scored two goals while playing alongside the great Wayne Gretzky. It was a dream come true.
“If hockey was super popular in Vancouver,” he explained, “then in Montreal, it was a religion.”
Advice To Young Russians
When asked to choose between Gretzky and Alexander Ovechkin for his ideal forward line, Bure refused to pick just one.
“Both,” he said without hesitation. “I’d play with both of them. That would be a dream line. Gretzky is an outstanding playmaker, and Ovechkin—well, he fits in with any team. If I were a GM, I’d take them both.”
As the discussion turned to young Russian stars, Bure reflected on advice given by Ovechkin to Montreal prospect Ivan Demidov: “Less showing off, and your career will go better.” Bure, however, had a different approach.
Building a Winner
The conversation then shifted to Vancouver’s recent struggles, particularly the trade of J.T. Miller after internal conflicts. Bure, ever the competitor, believed the issue should have been handled sooner.
“If you’ve got a talented player who doesn’t fit into the team, that’s a failure of management,” he said. “If it gets to the point where you have to trade him, something has already gone wrong.”
Finally, the inevitable question arose: Could the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup again?
“Why not?” Bure grinned. “They’re leading their division, Sergei Bobrovsky is in top form, and they’re a well-balanced team. But the fight for the Cup is going to be wild. Anything can happen.”
With that, the Russian Rocket left his mark once again—not with his dazzling speed on the ice, but with the wisdom of a hockey legend who had seen it all.
Sergey Demidov
