Jump to content
The Official Site of the Vancouver Canucks
Enter Search Term. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search.
Forum Closure ×
Canucks Community
Forum Closure

[VIDEO] Why Pavel Bure Was Truly One of a Kind: Debunking the Myths and Criticisms.

Guest

By Guest
in Canucks Talk

Recommended Posts

Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

This is a follow-up to a previous discussion about Pavel Bure.

After releasing the first footage reel featuring Pavel (see "Pavel Bure: The Lost Shifts"), viewers requested to see more of his exhilarating game. There were also naysayers who felt not enough defensive footage was shown. While there are many who fortunately understand what made Pavel Bure such a magnificent player to watch, there still exists the perception that he was a so-called "cherry picker" and "one-dimensional." This second reel will hopefully debunk those misconstrued and undeserved criticisms.

As with the predecessor to this video, the highlights shown do not include any goals scored by Pavel, primarily to emphasize that every time he touched the puck something exciting would happen. He was truly a human highlight reel, and he could dominate games with his abilities. My goal is to give viewers a closer look at Bure's regular shifts and what made him so special -- thus, "the lost shifts." Several viewers requested more of this lesser-seen footage, thus I've expanded with more all-around plays. Every game would be filled with enough exciting plays to create a highlight package, which is why he is considered by some to be the most exciting player ever; he was so shifty and unpredictable with the puck that you never knew if he would suddenly turn on the jets and amaze the audience.

The footage seen in this video is, again, taken from three games, one of which, the game against Chicago, he was injured in during the second period. Thus, we will consider the amount featured 2.5 games:

April 9, 1994 vs the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

May 27, 1995 vs the Chicago Blackhawks (2 periods shown)

October 11, 1997 vs the New York Rangers

Much of Pavel's game has been underrated and forgotten with time. His vision, his ability to anticipate plays, his mean streak, and his defensive posturing have become mysteries, as the only highlights we ever see of him now are his goals. He was indeed one of the greatest goal scorers of all time, and he should definitely be celebrated for it, but his game was so much more complex than goal highlights can reveal. Often, with the Canucks, he would be the catalyst of the team's offense, starting plays, rushing up the ice, and participating in an aggressive forecheck.

His skating and quick hands allowed him to maneuver around the ice unpredictably, forcing opposing players out of position and opening space. His defensive positioning, meanwhile, was also solid, and his work on the team's penalty kill was focused and demonstrated considerable effort. His effort while backchecking, as seen in the video, results in a devastating hit on the opposing Anaheim player.

The term "dynamic" as a descriptor would better suit his game; his skating abilities allowed him to dictate the pace of the game and evade defenders, his stickhandling skills made him lethal anywhere on the ice, and his hockey sense allowed him to exploit any open ice available to him, whether it be to establish open ice for teammates or to create chances for himself. He was gritty, fierce with the puck, and used his anticipation, acceleration, and agility to be effective and elusive -- if an opposing player did not keep track of where he was at all times, they would quickly be left behind.

Most importantly, Pavel Bure's favorite play was, undoubtedly, the end-to-end rush. Whenever he had the opportunity, he would carry the puck from coast to coast with absolute confidence. These types of electrifying plays defined his signature style, made possible only by contributing on the backcheck and being one of the last players to leave the defensive zone.

For such a small, skilled player, Pavel Bure was neither soft nor was he ever afraid to challenge any opposing player. He would drive to the net with incredible determination, could catapult himself into the opposition without hesitation, and would often take much physical abuse as a result. The number of times Pavel was obstructed and impeded is astonishing, many times because the opposing defenders could not contain him. His shiftiness and speed alone drew many penalties.

If there is any doubt Pavel is as tremendous or as exciting as fans like to recall, let these videos be a point of reference. Pavel definitely was a force, and one of the most electrifying players to ever play the sport.

See the first highlight reel: "Pavel Bure: The Lost Shifts"

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Azlar Junior Prospect

Azlar

Posted
Posted

Impressive! I was fairly young and didn't follow hockey that closely until the WCE era. It was really nice to see these clips of Bure, usually all I see are the "overplayed" highlight reels. To have all this footage from two and a half games is quite amazing.

It speaks volume when Gretzky would have extended his career to play with Bure ::D, too bad it didn't happen..

Link to comment
Share on other sites
-DLC- Canucks Hall-of-Famer

-DLC-

Posted
Posted

I remember it well, WW. Bure was something special and "that mean streak" very much meant that he could take care of himself out there. He was often targeted out there with 2-3 guys mugging him, but that didn't deter him. He fought, clawed and clambered his way around them and had a relentless determination. He played with an edge as well as skill and speed.

Very well said, thanks for reminding me of his brilliance... :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BernieMac Junior Prospect

BernieMac

Posted
Posted

Thank you for putting these videos together. Watching them has really brought back a lot of great memories. It has also reminded me that the legend of Pavel in my mind is not a romanticized memory, but that Pavel was that good.

I was in my early teenage years when Pavel was playing in his prime for the Canucks. His playing style is what turned me into a lifelong hockey fan. I will never forget the excitement when he touched the puck. You just knew something exciting was going to happen... My dad has always said the only person who was better in the end to end rush was Bobby Orr.

The only thing in my life as a hockey fan that has come anywhere close were the first few years when Ovechkin was so dominant. He had that ability to be exciting almost every time he touched the puck as well.

Thanks again...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cmpunk Canucks Regular

cmpunk

Posted
Posted

Wow i never saw Bure, knew he was great but not this great.

From those clips, you realize Bure was the total package. Offensensively gifted with speed and so hard to knock the puck off him, but man he was a big a strong guy that could hit. Also wasn't a lazy defensive player, he is just all over the ice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Captain Aerosex Canucks Third-Line

Captain Aerosex

Posted
Posted

In short, Pavel was terribly mistreated throughout his entire time in Vancouver. Years of being taken advantage of, being robbed, and deceived by the team. He absolutely despised the team for what happened, and rightfully so.

There are so many people who have misunderstood Bure's situation in Vancouver. He joined the team as a jubilant kid and left as a cold, betrayed, exploited individual. Meanwhile, he still made sure to put on a show for the fans, even with the weight of the team bringing him down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
aGENT Canucks Hall-of-Famer

aGENT

Posted
Posted

You're being just a little overdramatic. Guy still made millions and got into the HHOF, he didn't have it that rough.

Thanks for the video though, I love watching the guy work his magic, whether it's well-known highlights or 'lost' archival footage. Lightning on ice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...