Igor Larionov thinks the Vancouver Canucks should retire Pavel Bure’s jersey.
Larionov, a three-time Stanley Cup winner and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, told the Vancouver Province earlier this week that there’s "no doubt" Bure’s No. 10 jersey should hang in the rafters of the Rogers Arena.
“For his accomplishments here and for his dedication to the game in bringing so much fun and joy to the city in his playing days, I think he should be up there,” Larionov told the Vancouver Province. “It would be nice to have his No. 10 up in the rafters to be recognized as one of the greatest in Vancouver.”
Bure is renowned for helping revitalizing the Canucks fan base at a time where interest in the franchise was said to be dwindling.
Larionov believes what Bure’s list of accomplishments — including back-to-back 60-goal seasons and helping bring the Canucks within a game of the Stanley Cup — makes him deserving of the honour.
“When you decide to retire a jersey, it’s a decision by the management and there have been a few guys buying and selling the team, and with new management, I know they’re talking about that," Larionov explained.
Larionov, currently the agent of Nail Yakupov and Alex Galchenyuk, first met Bure when he was 16 and knew right away he was a special player that could excel in the NHL.
“I knew right away he had a great future and that he was going to be special,” Larionov said. “A player like that with the kind of calibre and skill and the flashiness would turn the city around, and he did it for many years. He scored a lot of highlight goals.”
Bure was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Monday night in Toronto.
The Canucks have retired three jerseys in the franchise’s history: Stan Smyl (No. 12), Trevor Linden (No. 16) and Markus Naslund (No. 19).
