Valeri Bure is a former Russian-American professional hockey player and two-time Olympic medalist. He played 10 NHL seasons and recorded 400 regular-season points. He is also widely known as the husband of actress Candace Cameron Bure.
His career included stops with Montreal, Calgary, Florida, St. Louis, and Dallas. His strongest NHL season came with the Calgary Flames in 1999-2000. Since leaving professional hockey, he has focused much more on family and business interests.
Valeri Bure Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Valeri Vladimirovich Bure |
| Born | June 13, 1974 |
| Birthplace | Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Age in 2026 | 52 |
| Nationality | Russian-American |
| NHL position | Right wing |
| NHL draft | 33rd overall in 1992 |
| Drafted by | Montreal Canadiens |
| NHL games | 621 |
| NHL goals | 174 |
| NHL assists | 226 |
| NHL points | 400 |
| Olympic medals | Silver in 1998, bronze in 2002 |
| Wife | Candace Cameron Bure |
| Children | Natasha, Lev, and Maksim |
| Older brother | Pavel Bure |
Direct answer: Bure is a retired NHL right winger born in Moscow on June 13, 1974. He played 621 NHL games and scored 174 goals. He represented Russia at two Winter Olympics and earned two medals. He married actress Candace Cameron in 1996, and they have three children.
Who Is Valeri Bure?
Bure was born in Moscow when the city was part of the Soviet Union. Hockey became central to his life at an early age. His family also had a strong sporting background.
His father, Vladimir Bure, was an Olympic swimmer and later worked in hockey conditioning. His older brother, Pavel Bure, became one of his generation’s most famous NHL scorers. Pavel earned the nickname “The Russian Rocket” during his professional career.
The younger Bure eventually followed his brother to North America. He played junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League. That experience helped prepare him for the NHL draft.
How His NHL Career Began
The Montreal Canadiens selected Bure 33rd overall in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He reached the NHL during the 1994-95 season. He spent his first NHL years with Montreal.
He established himself as a skilled right winger with speed and scoring ability. His production increased after his early seasons in Montreal. A later move to Calgary gave him his most productive NHL years.
During his career, he played for five NHL franchises. They were the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Dallas Stars. He finished with 621 regular-season appearances.
Valeri Bure NHL Career and Best Season
His peak offensive season came with Calgary in 1999-2000. He scored 35 goals and finished with 75 points that season. Both totals were career highs.
Those numbers made him Calgary’s leading scorer for the season. His performance also earned him an appearance at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game. It was the clearest statistical high point of his professional career.
That season also produced an unusual NHL record involving his brother. Pavel scored 58 goals for the Florida Panthers. The brothers combined for 93 goals during the 1999-2000 campaign.
The total broke the previous NHL mark for goals by brothers in one season. Bobby and Dennis Hull had combined for 88 goals in 1968-69. The Bure brothers therefore created a distinctive piece of NHL history.
Career NHL Statistics
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Games played | 621 |
| Goals | 174 |
| Assists | 226 |
| Points | 400 |
| Best single-season goal total | 35 |
| Best single-season point total | 75 |
| NHL All-Star appearances | 1 |
His 400 career points show that he was more than Pavel’s younger brother. He developed into a productive NHL forward in his own right. His Calgary years provided the strongest evidence of that ability.
Olympic Career With Russia
His international career added another important chapter to his hockey résumé. He represented Russia at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. Russia reached the gold-medal game and finished with silver.
He returned to Olympic competition four years later in Salt Lake City. Russia finished third in the men’s hockey tournament. That result gave him a bronze medal alongside his earlier silver.
His two Olympic medals remain among his most notable achievements. They also distinguish his international career from his NHL statistics. Few professional players finish their careers with medals from multiple Winter Games.
Marriage to Candace Cameron Bure
Bure met actress Candace Cameron during the 1990s. Dave Coulier, Cameron’s Full House costar, helped introduce them at a charity hockey event. They began dating and married on June 22, 1996.
Their relationship has lasted well beyond his professional playing career. In June 2026, they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. The milestone came more than three decades after they first met.
Cameron has remained active in television, movies, publishing, and other media projects. Her public career has kept the family in entertainment coverage. Readers interested in similar stories can explore Notepare’s entertainment and celebrity coverage next.
Their Three Children
The couple has three children: Natasha, Lev, and Maksim. Natasha was born in 1998, followed by Lev in 2000. Maksim, often called Maks, was born in 2002.
All three children are now adults. Natasha has worked in entertainment and married actor Bradley Steven Perry in September 2025. Lev has been involved with the family’s wine business.
The family entered another stage during 2026. Public announcements revealed that both Natasha and Lev were expecting children with their spouses. That meant Candace and her husband were preparing to become grandparents.
Why Did He Retire From Hockey?
Injuries played a major part in ending his professional hockey career. He played his final NHL games during the 2003-04 season. He later signed with the Los Angeles Kings but did not return to regular-season NHL action.
Back problems and surgeries complicated his attempt to continue playing. Family priorities also influenced his eventual decision to stop. Retirement allowed him to spend more time with his children.
His departure, therefore, was not a single dramatic retirement moment. Physical problems had already disrupted his playing future. His changing priorities made continuing a professional comeback less attractive.
Life After the NHL
Retirement did not lead him toward a high-profile broadcasting or coaching career. Instead, one of his best-known interests became wine. His interest in winemaking had developed during his hockey years.
He and his family became associated with Bure Family Wines in California’s Napa Valley. The project allowed him to pursue an interest outside professional sports. It also gave him a new professional focus after years of competition.
The family previously tried another food-related venture. He and Candace opened a Florida restaurant called The Milk and Honey Cafe. They later closed it after relocating to California.
He also returned to the ice in a different setting after retirement. In 2010, he appeared on the Canadian television competition Battle of the Blades. The program paired former hockey players with professional figure skaters.
He competed alongside Olympic figure skating champion Ekaterina Gordeeva. The pair won the show’s second season. The experience briefly brought him back into the public eye years after his NHL career ended. You might also like Season Hubley.
Valeri and Pavel Bure: Two Different NHL Careers
Comparisons with Pavel followed the younger brother throughout his career. The connection was unavoidable because both became NHL forwards. Their careers, though, reached different statistical levels.
| Category | Valeri | Pavel |
|---|---|---|
| NHL games | 621 | 702 |
| NHL goals | 174 | 437 |
| NHL points | 400 | 779 |
| Primary position | Right wing | Right wing |
| NHL Hall of Fame | No | Yes |
Pavel became one of hockey’s elite goal scorers and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His younger brother built a solid 10-season career without reaching those individual heights. Judging the younger player only against Pavel can therefore obscure his own accomplishments.
A 400-point NHL career remains a significant professional achievement. His résumé also includes an All-Star appearance and two Olympic medals. His 35-goal season shows the scoring level he reached at his peak.
How Old Is He Now?
He was born on June 13, 1974. That makes him 52 years old as of September 2026. He played professionally mainly in the 1990s and early 2000s.
He was only 20 when he made his NHL debut. His final NHL campaign came before his 30th birthday. Injuries consequently shortened what might otherwise have been a longer playing career.
What Is His Net Worth?
Celebrity finance websites publish estimates for the former player’s net worth. Treat these figures as estimates rather than verified financial disclosures. Private assets, debts, investments, and business ownership details are not fully public.
His NHL career did generate substantial salary income. Public salary databases and media reports provide historical figures for individual seasons. Those earnings do not establish his current personal wealth.
His post-hockey business interests may also contribute to his finances. Still, assigning a precise current figure would suggest more certainty than public information supports. Notepare’s Jeffrey Donovan profile offers another example of treating celebrity wealth estimates with clear qualifications.
What Makes His Career Notable?
His story includes several accomplishments that can disappear behind his famous family connections. He reached the NHL after moving from Russia to North America as a teenager. He then remained in the league for 10 seasons.
His best campaign produced 35 goals and 75 points. He also helped create an NHL sibling scoring record with Pavel. Internationally, he returned from two Olympic Games with two medals.
His life after hockey adds another dimension. He moved away from regular professional sports competition and pursued family and business interests. More than two decades after his last NHL season, those parts of his story receive much of the public attention.
Readers who enjoy biographies built around careers and famous family connections can also read Notepare’s Lorna Luft career profile. Her story similarly covers a public career alongside the influence of a well-known family. Both profiles separate individual achievements from the famous relationships surrounding them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Valeri Bure
Who is Valeri Bure?
He is a retired Russian-American professional ice hockey player. He spent 10 seasons in the NHL as a right winger. He is also the younger brother of Hockey Hall of Famer Pavel Bure.
Is he still married to Candace Cameron Bure?
Yes. He and Candace Cameron Bure married on June 22, 1996. They celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in June 2026.
How many children do Candace Cameron Bure and her husband have?
They have three children. Their names are Natasha, Lev, and Maksim. All three were born between 1998 and 2002.
How many NHL points did he score?
He recorded 400 regular-season NHL points. Those came from 174 goals and 226 assists across 621 games. His most productive season came with Calgary, when he scored 75 points.
Did he win an Olympic medal?
Yes, he won two Olympic hockey medals representing Russia. He earned silver at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. He added bronze at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Is Pavel Bure his brother?
Yes. Pavel is his older brother and was an elite NHL goal scorer. Pavel was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
What does he do after hockey?
After hockey, he has focused on family and business interests. He became closely involved with the family’s California wine venture. He also won Battle of the Blades in 2010.
The Takeaway
Bure’s public story stretches well beyond being Candace Cameron Bure’s husband. He played 621 NHL games, scored 400 points, and produced a 35-goal season. He also earned silver and bronze medals while representing Russia.
Injuries ended his playing career earlier than it might otherwise have lasted. Retirement opened more time for his family and interests outside hockey. Today, his story connects NHL history, Olympic competition, winemaking, and a marriage that reached 30 years in 2026.
For readers discovering him through entertainment coverage, his hockey record provides important context. For hockey fans, his family life explains much of his public profile after retirement. Together, those chapters provide a fuller picture of the former NHL winger.
