Torn Knee Ligament Will Sideline Canuck Wing Bure for the Season

Vancouver Canuck scoring star Pavel Bure has a torn ligament in his right knee and will be lost for the rest of the season.

“Obviously devastating news to the organization,” Vancouver Coach Rick Ley told radio station CKNW on Saturday. “It’s the type of injury you’d like to see no athlete sustain.

“It can be a career-threatening injury. But in Pavel’s case, with his youth and being one of the top conditioned athletes probably in the world . . . we’re expecting a complete recovery.”

Bure suffered the torn anterior cruciate in a game in Chicago on Thursday when he was knocked to the ice by Steve Smith of the Chicago Blackhawks. The team said Bure will undergo surgery, but exactly when wasn’t announced.

Smith grabbed Bure around the head in the first period, and when Bure fell behind the Chicago net, he caught his skate at the base of the boards, injuring his knee.

The Moscow-born Bure had a slow start to the regular season with 13 points in 15 games, including six goals. The right winger has twice scored 60 goals in a season.

This fall, Bure, 24, was joined by former Russian teammate Alexander Mogilny, and the Canucks were considered contenders for the Pacific Division title.