Bure to act as GM for Russian Olympic team
TSN.ca Staff
11/1/2005 9:33:18 AM
Pavel Bure has officially retired as a player, and will take over as general manager for the Russian Olympic Team, according to the Reuters News Agency.
Bure has not played since injuring his right knee in March of 2003.
"There comes a time when you have to make a decision and move on," said Bure.
Bure finished with 437 goals and 342 assists for 779 points in 702 NHL games. In 64 playoff games, he scored 35 goals and 35 assists for 70 points.
Bure was a two-time winner of the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goalscorer, notching 58 goals in 2000 and 59 in 2001. His best seasons were with Vancouver in 1993 and 1994, when he scored 60 goals per season and topped 100 points for the only times in his career.
He was the NHL Rookie of the Year in 1992, after scoring 35 goals for the Canucks.
Bure has plenty of Olympic experience and the Russian Hockey Federation is hopeful that he will be able to attract the countries best players.
"I can promise you one thing, from now on you won't see such a mess with the national team that you've seen here before," Bure said. "You won't see grouchy players here any more. Only those who really want to play for Russia will be called into the team."
As captain, Bure led Russia to a silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Games, scoring an Olympic record five goals in a 7-4 semifinal victory over Finland.
He also won an Olympic bronze four years later in Salt Lake City.
Cheers,
Aquaman
