Valeri Bure

Early Life and Family Background

Valeri Bure was born on June 13, 1974, in Moscow, then part of the Soviet Union, to parents Vladimir and Tatiana Bure. His father, Vladimir Bure, was an accomplished Olympic swimmer who won four medals for the Soviet Union across three Olympic Games between 1968 and 1976. The Bure family possesses a notable history of craftsmanship and nobility, with ancestors serving as watchmakers for Russian tsars from 1815 to 1917, a service for which they were granted noble status. Valeri's parents separated when he was approximately nine years old. In 1991, at age 17, Valeri joined his father and older brother, future NHL star Pavel Bure, in moving to North America as Pavel began his career with the Vancouver Canucks. The family initially settled in Los Angeles, where Vladimir coached both sons in hockey and conditioning. However, by 1998, both Valeri and Pavel had become estranged from their father, his second wife Julia, and their half-sister Katya, a separation for which neither brother has publicly provided a reason.

Junior Career in the Western Hockey League

Before leaving the Soviet Union, Valeri Bure played three games for HC CSKA Moscow during the 1990-91 season. Upon arriving in North America, he entered the junior hockey system, joining the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the 1991-92 season. This move made him the first Russian player in WHL history, preceding the league's institution of an import draft. In his debut WHL season, Bure recorded 49 points in 53 games, a performance that caught the attention of NHL scouts. The Montreal Canadiens selected him in the second round, 33rd overall, at the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, with scouts praising his skating, intelligence, and competitive edge. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau's assessment noted he was a good skater, very smart around the net, a good passer and playmaker with a quick shot release, and a competitor willing to take a hit to make a play. Returning to Spokane for the 1992-93 season, Bure emerged as an elite junior scorer, finishing second in the WHL with 147 points. His 68 goals that season remain a Spokane Chiefs franchise record, and 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 a final season, where he tallied 102 points and earned a spot on the WHL Second All-Star Team. Over three seasons with the Chiefs, Bure amassed 298 points, ranking fourth on the team's all-time scoring list.

National Hockey League Career

Bure turned professional for the 1994-95 season, spending most of it with the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate in Fredericton, where he posted 23 goals and 48 points in 45 games. He made his NHL debut with Montreal on February 28, 1995, against the New York Islanders, scoring his first goal two weeks later on March 15 against goaltender Wendell Young of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 24 games with Montreal that season, he scored 3 goals and added an assist. In his first full NHL season (1995-96), he scored 22 goals and 42 points, but his production dipped to 14 goals the following year as he battled two concussions and a kidney injury, which limited him to 64 games. At five-foot-ten, Bure was part of a small but skilled Montreal line with Saku Koivu and Oleg Petrov, dubbed the "Smurf line." After playing 50 games in the 1997-98 season, Montreal traded Bure to the Calgary Flames on February 1, 1998, in exchange for Jonas Hoglund and Zarley Zalapski. He welcomed the move, which brought him closer to family on the west coast and offered more opportunity on a young Flames roster. He recorded his first career hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers shortly after the trade, finishing the season with 38 points in 66 combined games between the two clubs.

Bure's offensive game flourished in Calgary. In the 1998-99 season, he was third on the team with 26 goals and 53 points, and at one point scored the game-winning goal in four consecutive Flames victories. Following the departure of star Theoren Fleury, Bure emerged as a primary scorer in 1999 to 2000, leading the Flames with 35 goals and 75 points and appearing in all 82 games. His 75 points placed him 14th overall in NHL scoring that season. His performance earned him a selection to the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, where he played on the World team on a line with his brother Pavel, who was named game MVP after scoring three goals, two assisted by Valeri, in a 9-4 victory. That season, the Bure brothers combined for 93 goals, setting an NHL record for siblings. His production declined to 27 goals and 55 points in 2000-01, which was still second and third on the team respectively, but clashes with coaches Don Hay and later Greg Gilbert over his defensive play led to him being held out of the lineup and fuelled trade rumours. On June 24, 2001, Calgary traded Bure and Jason Wiemer to the Florida Panthers for Rob Niedermayer and a second-round draft pick.

Bure's tenure with Florida was marred by injuries and inconsistency. As a restricted free agent, he held out briefly before signing late in September 2001. A pre-existing knee injury worsened, requiring arthroscopic surgery and causing him to miss 37 games in the 2001-02 season. A second knee injury ended his season in March, limiting him to 31 games and 18 points. The following season, an offensive slump and a hairline wrist fracture from a slash by Keith Primeau hampered his play. With only 5 goals and 26 points in 46 games, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues on March 11, 2003, for defenceman Mike Van Ryn. Another knee injury, a sprained ligament, limited him to five regular-season and six playoff games for St. Louis, where he recorded two assists in each segment. Placed on waivers after the season, he was claimed back by Florida. Finally healthy in 2003-04, Bure was Florida's leading scorer with 45 points and reached 20 goals for the fifth time in his career. With the Panthers out of playoff contention, they traded him 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 recorded 7 points in 13 regular-season games and three assists in five playoff contests. Following the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Bure signed with the Los Angeles Kings but suffered a back injury in the preseason described as soreness, which ultimately required surgery. A subsequent hip surgery caused him to miss the entire 2005-06 season, leading to his retirement at age 31.

International Play

Valeri Bure represented Russia in numerous international tournaments throughout his career. He made his debut with the national junior team at the 1994 World Junior Championship, where he was the tournament's leading scorer with eight points in six games, earning All-Star Team honours as Russia won the bronze medal. That same year, he debuted with the senior team at the 1994 World Championship, scoring three goals in six contests as Russia finished fifth. Bure participated in one game at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and later competed in two Winter Olympics. At the 1998 Nagano Games, he scored one goal and won a silver medal after Russia lost the gold medal game to the Czech Republic, who were backstopped by Dominik Hasek. This tournament marked the first time he and his brother Pavel played together since their brief stint with CSKA Moscow. Four years later at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Bure scored a goal as the Russian team captured the bronze medal. He was invited to the 2004 World Cup of Hockey but declined due to a lack of an NHL contract and insufficient injury insurance at the time, a common concern for players without club coverage.

Post-Hockey Career and Business Ventures

After retiring from hockey in 2005, Valeri Bure pursued business interests, primarily in the wine industry. He had developed a passion for wine early in his NHL career, which evolved into a serious vocation he described as an amazing process, loving the behind-the-scenes work from vineyard to bottle. In 2007, he and his wife opened a restaurant in Florida called The Milk and Honey Café, though they closed it upon relocating to California. The couple then established Bure Family Wines, a winery based in St. Helena within California's Napa Valley. Bure took a hands-on approach, describing a love for the entire process from vineyard to bottle. He designed the winery's label by modifying the Russian imperial seal his great-grandfather used on the watches crafted for the tsars. Beyond business, Bure returned to the ice in 2010 as a contestant on the CBC reality show Battle of the Blades. Paired with Olympic champion figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva, the duo won the competition's second season, with Bure donating his $100,000 share of the prize to Compassion Canada, a Christian child sponsorship organization.

Personal Life

Valeri Bure married actress Candace Cameron, known for her role on Full House, on June 22, 1996. The couple was introduced in 1994 by Cameron's castmate Dave Coulier at a charity hockey game. They have three children: daughter Natasha (born 1998) and sons Lev (born 2000) and Maksim (born 2002). Bure became an American citizen in December 2001. He cited his desire to spend time with his growing family and support his wife's return to acting as key factors in his decision to retire from hockey, feeling he could have returned from his surgeries but chose family instead. The Bure family are practising Christians. As noted, both Valeri and his brother Pavel became estranged from their father Vladimir's side of the family in 1998. The brothers have not publicly discussed the reasons for this familial separation, which included their father's second wife and their half-sister.

Career Statistics and Highlights

He added 4 goals and 10 points in 37 playoff games. His most productive season was 1999 to 2000 with the Calgary Flames, where he set career highs with 35 goals and 75 points and was the only Flame to play all 82 games. That season, he and his brother Pavel combined for 93 total goals, an NHL record for siblings that still stands. Bure's international record is equally notable, featuring two Olympic medals and a World Junior bronze. His junior career with the Spokane Chiefs was marked by prolific scoring, including a franchise-record 68-goal season and 298 total points. His professional career began with 45 games in the AHL for the Fredericton Canadiens, where he scored 23 goals and 48 points before his NHL recall.

• NHL All-Star Game: 2000 (World Team).
• Olympic Medals: Silver (1998), Bronze (2002).
• World Junior Championship: Bronze medal, All-Star Team, Leading Scorer (1994).
• WHL West Division First All-Star Team: 1992-93.
• WHL West Division Second All-Star Team: 1993-94.
• Spokane Chiefs Franchise Record: 68 goals in a single season (1992-93).
• NHL Sibling Record: Combined 93 goals with brother Pavel Bure (1999 to 2000).
• Battle of the Blades Champion: Season 2 (2010) with partner Ekaterina Gordeeva.

Valeri Bure played 10 seasons in the NHL for five different teams. His peak offensive years were with the Calgary Flames, where he led the team in scoring during the 1999 to 2000 season. Later in his career, he was challenged by several significant injuries, including knee and back problems. These injuries ultimately contributed to his retirement from professional hockey in 2005.

Questions about Valeri Bure

What is Valeri Bure's connection to Canada?

While born in Russia, Valeri Bure's hockey career is deeply connected to Canada. He played major junior hockey for the Spokane Chiefs in the Canadian Hockey League's Western Hockey League, becoming the league's first Russian player. He was drafted by the historic Montreal Canadiens and played parts of four seasons in Montreal, where he was part of the famed 'Smurf line' with Saku Koivu and Oleg Petrov. Later, he competed on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's reality show Battle of the Blades, which he won in 2010 with partner Ekaterina Gordeeva. His career was primarily built within the North American hockey system centred in Canada.

Did Valeri Bure ever play on the same team as his brother Pavel?

Valeri and Pavel Bure were never teammates in the NHL. They played together briefly in their youth for HC CSKA Moscow in 1991 before leaving the Soviet Union. Their most famous on-ice collaboration came at the international level, representing Russia together at the 1998 and 2002 Olympic Games, winning silver and bronze respectively. They also played on the same line for the World team at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, where Pavel was named MVP after scoring three goals, two of which were assisted by Valeri, in a 9-4 victory over the North America team.

Why did Valeri Bure retire from hockey?

Valeri Bure retired in 2005 following a series of significant injuries that culminated after the NHL lockout. He had signed with the Los Angeles Kings for the 2005-06 season but suffered a back injury during the preseason initially described as soreness. That injury required surgery, and during his recovery, he also needed a second surgery on his hip, causing him to miss the entire season. At age 31, facing a lengthy and uncertain rehabilitation, he chose to retire. He stated that while he felt he could have returned to play, he wanted to focus on his family, spend time with his children, and allow his wife Candace to resume her acting career.

What business does Valeri Bure own and how did it start?

Valeri Bure is the co-owner of Bure Family Wines, a winery located in St. Helena, California, in the Napa Valley. He developed an interest in wine early in his NHL career that grew into a passion, describing his love for the behind-the-scenes work from vineyard to bottle. With his wife Candace, he established the business after his retirement. The winery's label features a modified version of the Russian imperial seal used by his ancestors, who were watchmakers for the tsars from 1815 to 1917. Prior to the winery, the couple briefly operated a restaurant in Florida called The Milk and Honey Café, which they closed upon moving to California.

What NHL record do the Bure brothers hold and when was it set?

Valeri and Pavel Bure hold the NHL record for most combined goals by a pair of siblings in a single season. The record was set during the 1999 to 2000 NHL season. That year, Valeri scored a career-high 35 goals for the Calgary Flames while his brother Pavel scored 58 goals for the Florida Panthers, for a combined total of 93 goals. This record remains a notable achievement in league history, highlighting the exceptional offensive talent within the Bure family during that particular campaign.

How did Valeri Bure perform in international tournaments?

Valeri Bure was a consistent and productive player for the Russian national team. He debuted at the 1994 World Junior Championship, leading the tournament in scoring with 8 points in 6 games and making the All-Star Team as Russia won bronze. He played in two Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal in 1998 and a bronze in 2002, scoring one goal in each tournament. He also participated in the 1994 World Championship and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He was invited to the 2004 World Cup but declined due to a lack of an NHL contract and proper injury insurance at the time.

Sources and further reading

• Valeri Bure (Wikipedia)
• Valeri Bure Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title (hockey-reference.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.