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He was convinced to do so only because he wants Canucks fans to know his reasons had nothing to do with the city, the people or even the rain. In one discussion, he detailed years of pent-up frustration over the silence he’s maintained. The litany of neglect from Canucks management seems almost too absurd for words.

For starters, he first asked to be traded in 1993, five years and three months ago. But by far the most significant reason for wanting to leave came when, he said, somebody in Vancouver management made up a story that Bure threatened to withdraw his services during the ’94 playoff run to the Cup final.

“Somebody from management planted that story,” said Bure.

“They said I threatened not to play and it really pissed me off.

“It’s a lie,” said Bure with steel in his eyes. “I don’t want to say who did it because I don’t want to say what I don’t know. But I know one thing: I was promised to be traded. The contract was done before the playoffs even started. Ron (Bure’s former agent Salcer) agreed with Pat (former GM Quinn) before Calgary. But the story was put out all over and by the time it was denied by Pat Quinn and everybody else, it was too late. It looked like a cover-up.”

While Bure would in no way even indicate whom he thought it might be, reason would indicate it was either then-acting assistant GM George McPhee or then-owner Arthur Griffiths. Quinn has indicated to some insiders he was led to believe Bure had threatened to withdraw his services by “my guy” but now says privately and publicly it never happened.