Valeri Bure

Early Life and Family Background

Valeri Bure was born on June 13, 1974, in Moscow, Soviet Union, into a family with a distinguished athletic and artisanal heritage. He is the younger son of Vladimir Bure, an Olympic swimmer who won four medals for the Soviet Union across three Games between 1968 and 1976, and Tatiana Bure. The Bure family history includes a noble status granted due to their ancestors' work as master craftsmen who made precious watches for Russian tsars from 1815 to 1917. His parents separated when he was around nine years old. In 1991, at age 17, Valeri moved to North America with his father and his older brother, Pavel Bure, who was beginning his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks. His mother arrived two months later. The family initially settled in Los Angeles, where Vladimir continued to train and coach both sons in hockey and physical conditioning. By 1998, both Valeri and Pavel had become estranged from their father, his second wife Julia, and their half-sister Katya, though neither brother publicly explained the reason for the separation.

Pioneering Junior Career in the Western Hockey League

After playing just three games for HC CSKA Moscow in the Soviet Championship League during the 1990-91 season, Bure moved to North America and joined the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the 1991-92 season. His arrival made him the first Russian player in WHL history, preceding the league's import draft system which was instituted the following year. In his first season, he recorded 49 points in 53 games, catching the attention of NHL scouts. The Montreal Canadiens selected him in the second round, 33rd overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau's assessment praised Bure as a good skater, smart around the net, a good passer and playmaker with a quick release, and noted he would take a hit to make a play. Bure returned to Spokane and had a spectacular 1992-93 season, leading his team and finishing second in WHL scoring with 147 points. His 68 goals that season remains a Chiefs' franchise record. He was named to the WHL's West Division First All-Star Team. After attending Montreal's training camp in 1993, he was returned to junior for one final season, where he scored 102 points and was named to the Second All-Star Team.

NHL Beginnings with the Montreal Canadiens

Bure turned professional in the 1994-95 season, spending the majority of it with Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Fredericton Canadiens, where he recorded 23 goals and 48 points in 45 games. He earned a recall to Montreal late in the season and made his NHL debut on February 28, 1995, against the New York Islanders. His first NHL goal came on March 15, 1995, against goaltender Wendell Young of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 24 total games with Montreal that season, Bure scored 3 goals and added an assist. Playing in the considerable shadow of his superstar brother Pavel, Valeri struggled with the heightened expectations in Montreal. His first full season in 1995-96 was more productive, with 22 goals and 42 points. In Montreal, the small-statured line of Bure, Saku Koivu, and Oleg Petrov was nicknamed the "Smurf line. After playing 50 games for the Canadiens in the 1997-98 season, Bure was traded.

Peak Years and Stardom with the Calgary Flames

On February 1, 1998, Bure was traded to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Jonas Höglund and Zarley Zalapski. The deal was welcomed by Bure, who appreciated both the ability to play closer to his family on the west coast and the increased opportunity on a young Flames team. He recorded his first career hat trick in one of his first games in Calgary, against the Edmonton Oilers. His offensive ability emerged fully in Calgary as he became one of the team's leading scorers. His totals of 26 goals and 53 points in 1998-99 were both third best on the team. At one point that season, Bure scored the game-winning goal in four consecutive Flames victories. With the departure of star Theoren Fleury, added pressure fell on Bure to be an offensive leader in 1999 to 2000, and he responded by becoming one of the NHL's early scoring leaders, using his speed to sit eighth in league scoring by mid-December. Bure was named to the World team at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game where he played on a line with his brother Pavel, who was named game MVP after scoring three goals, two assisted by Valeri. Bure completed the season as the Flames leader in goals (35) and points (75, 14th overall in the NHL) and was the only player on the team to appear in all 82 games. The brothers' combined 93 goals that season set the NHL sibling record. Though his production declined to 27 goals and 55 points in 2000-01, he became embroiled in a power struggle with coaches Don Hay and Greg Gilbert over playing a more defensive game, which led to him being a healthy scratch and rumours of a trade request.

Injury-Plagued Later Tenure and Retirement

On June 24, 2001, the Flames traded Bure and Jason Wiemer to the Florida Panthers for Rob Niedermayer and a second-round draft pick. As a restricted free agent, Bure's contract negotiation caused a brief holdout from training camp. His Panthers tenure was immediately derailed by injury, as a pre-existing knee ailment worsened, requiring arthroscopic surgery that caused him to miss 37 games. A second knee injury ended his 2001-02 season in mid-March, limiting him to 31 games and 18 points. The 2002-03 season began with an offensive slump and was further hampered by a hairline fracture to his wrist from a slash. With only 5 goals in 46 games, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues on March 11, 2003, for Mike Van Ryn. Another knee injury, a sprained ligament, kept him out much of the remainder of the season. He recorded two assists in five regular season games and two more in six playoff games for St. Louis. Placed on waivers after the season, he was claimed back by Florida. Healthy for the 2003-04 season, Bure was a Panthers offensive leader, reaching 20 goals for the fifth time and leading the team with 45 points near the trade deadline. With Florida out of playoff contention, he was traded to the Dallas Stars on March 9, 2004, for Drew Bagnall and a draft pick. Placed on the top line with Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen, he had 7 points in 13 regular season games and three assists in five playoff games. An unrestricted free agent after the 2004-05 lockout, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings but suffered a back injury in the 2005 preseason described as soreness. It required surgery, as did a subsequent hip operation, causing him to miss the entire season. At age 31, and prioritizing his family, Bure opted to retire from professional hockey in 2005.

International Career with Russia

Bure represented Russia on the international stage multiple times throughout his career. He made his debut with the national junior team at the 1994 World Junior Championship, where he was the leading scorer for the bronze medal-winning squad with eight points in six games and was named to the tournament All-Star Team. That same year, he played for the senior team at the 1994 World Championship, scoring three goals in six games for a fifth-place finish. Bure participated in one game at the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He then competed in two Winter Olympics. At the 1998 Nagano Games, he played on a line with his brother Pavel for the first time since their brief stint as CSKA Moscow teammates in 1991. Valeri scored one goal in the tournament as Russia advanced to the gold medal game, settling for silver after a shutout loss to the Czech Republic. Four years later at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, Bure scored a goal, helping Russia secure the bronze medal. He was invited to play in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey but declined due to being without an NHL contract and a lack of proper injury insurance at the time.

Personal Life, Family, and Business Ventures

Bure married actress Candace Cameron on June 22, 1996, after being introduced by her Full House castmate Dave Coulier at a charity hockey game in 1994. The couple has three children: daughter Natasha (born 1998) and sons Lev (born 2000) and Maksim (born 2002). Bure became an American citizen in December 2001 and the family are Christians. He cited his desire to spend time with his children and allow his wife to return to acting as primary reasons for his retirement from hockey. In his post-hockey life, Bure and his wife have been involved in several business ventures. They opened a Florida restaurant called The Milk and Honey Café in 2007 but closed it when the family moved to California. Their primary business is Bure Family Wines, a winery in St. Helena, California, in the Napa Valley. Bure developed a passion for wine early in his NHL career, stating he fell in love with the behind-the-scenes work from vineyard to bottle. He modified the Russian imperial seal his great-grandfather stamped on watches to use as his company's label. According to 2026 notes, Bure has also returned to hockey in a coaching capacity, serving as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings (QC).

Post-Retirement Public Appearances and Career Summary

In 2010, Bure returned to the ice in a unique capacity as a contestant on the second season of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's figure skating reality show Battle of the Blades. The series paired former professional hockey players with figure skaters in a competition. Bure's partner was two-time Olympic gold medalist Ekaterina Gordeeva. The pair won the competition and shared a $100,000 prize, which was donated to charities of their choice. Bure's donation was made to Compassion Canada. This appearance highlighted his continued connection to skating and entertainment following his hockey career. His legacy in hockey is that of a skilled, fast winger who peaked as a top-line scorer for the Calgary Flames and set a notable family record alongside his brother. Bure's journey from a pioneering Russian junior in the WHL to an NHL All-Star and Olympic medalist represents a significant chapter in the history of Russian players adapting to North American hockey, while his successful transition to business and coaching shows a life with varied interests and roles after playing.

Questions about Valeri Bure

Which NHL teams did Valeri Bure play for?

Valeri Bure played for five NHL teams over his ten-season career. He began with the Montreal Canadiens, who drafted him in 1992, and made his debut in 1995. He was traded to the Calgary Flames in 1998, where he had his most productive seasons and became an All-Star. Later, he played for the Florida Panthers, was traded to the St. Louis Blues, and finished his NHL career with the Dallas Stars in 2004. He signed with the Los Angeles Kings in 2005 but retired due to injury before playing a regular season game for them.

What is Valeri Bure's connection to his brother Pavel Bure?

Valeri Bure is the younger brother of Hockey Hall of Famer Pavel Bure, known as the "Russian Rocket. They were briefly teammates on CSKA Moscow in 1991 before both moved to North America. They played together on a line for the World team at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, where Pavel was MVP and Valeri assisted on two of his three goals. Most notably, in the 1999 to 2000 season, while Valeri played for Calgary and Pavel for Florida, they combined for 93 goals, setting an NHL record for the most goals by a pair of siblings in a single season.

Did Valeri Bure win any Olympic medals?

Yes, Valeri Bure won two Olympic medals while representing Russia. At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, he was part of the Russian team that won the silver medal, losing the gold medal game to the Czech Republic in a shutout. Four years later, at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, he helped Russia win the bronze medal. He scored one goal in each of those Olympic tournaments. The 1998 Games also marked the first time he and his brother Pavel played together on a team since their junior days in Russia.

What does Valeri Bure do after retiring from hockey?

After retiring in 2005, Valeri Bure, along with his wife Candace Cameron Bure, operates Bure Family Wines, a winery in St. Helena, California, in the Napa Valley. He developed a passion for wine during his playing days and designed the label based on his family's historical watchmaking seal. The couple previously owned a restaurant in Florida called The Milk and Honey Café. According to recent notes, Bure has also returned to hockey as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings (QC). He also won the CBC show Battle of the Blades in 2010.

Why did Valeri Bure's NHL career end?

Valeri Bure's NHL career ended due to a series of significant injuries following the 2004 season. After the NHL lockout, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings for the 2005-06 season but suffered a back injury during the preseason that was initially described as soreness. This injury required surgery, and a subsequent hip surgery followed, causing him to miss the entire 2005-06 season. At age 31, and after considering a comeback, he opted to retire to prioritize time with his young family and to allow his wife to resume her acting career, feeling the recovery process was not worth the risk.

What was Valeri Bure's best NHL season and his career statistics?

Valeri Bure's best NHL season was the 1999 to 2000 campaign with the Calgary Flames. He led the team in scoring with 35 goals and 75 points, finishing 14th overall in NHL scoring, and was the only Flame to play in all 82 games. His performance earned him a selection to the NHL All-Star Game. He added 2 goals and 10 points in 23 playoff games. His career was marked by consistent 15-20 goal potential when healthy, though injuries limited his later years.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.