Pavel Bure
Most Rangers fans remember Pavel Bure as the Vancouver Canucks’ best player in the 1993-94 Stanley Cup Final. They do not remember the fact that Bure finished his career as a Ranger.
In 2001-02, the Rangers acquired Pavel Bure from the Florida Panthers, hoping to once again be a relevant hockey franchise.
Well, looking back, the trade was a disaster.
To acquire the 30-year old, the Rangers gave up two prospects (both of which, to be fair, didn’t have relevant NHL careers), a first round pick, a fourth round pick and the option to swap second round picks.
Bure would finish the 01-02 season tallying 20 points in 12 games with the Blueshirts, a tremendous start to a long career in New York, right?
Wrong.
In 2002-03, Bure notched 19 goals and 11 assists through 39 games. He would never play another NHL game again.
Bure suffered a knee injury in the preseason that lingered throughout the regular season. He then tore his meniscus in his left knee after a knee-on-knee collision. After sitting out the 2003-04 season, Bure decided to hang up the skates due to his health.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, but imagine what he could have done in Rangers blue if he was healthy?