Hockey Hall to Call Former Panthers? Bure, Nieuwendyk and Belfour Hope to Hear Name

The Hockey Hall of Fame is going to announce it's newest class on Tuesday and a number of former Panthers could be included.

Pavel Bure spent a big chunk of his career in Sunrise, the Russian Rocket coming to the Panthers in 1999 before leaving in a much disputed (although he played just 51 games after leaving the Panthers because of knee injuries) trade in 2002.

Also being considered are a pair of players who won the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999 but played their final NHL games with the Panthers: Joe Nieuwendyk and Eddie Belfour.

We all thought Nieuwendyk would make it last year but he was passed over. I think he makes it this time. Eddie the Eagle, who spent one very interesting season with the Panthers in 2006-07, may have to wait another year.

But we'll see.

We wish them all the best.

--Mike Vernon, the last Panthers starting goalie to appear in the playoffs, is also eligible.

-- Fun stuff with Bure: In 1998-99, Bure held out with a year left on his contract after telling the Canucks he would never play with them again.

To get Bure, the Panthers traded Ed Jovanovski, Dave Gagner, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and the first round pick in 2000. The Panthers also got back Bret Hedican, Brad Ference and Vancouver's third-round pick in 2000.

In 2002, the Panthers got Igor Ulanov, Filip Novak and first and second round picks from the Rangers (as well as a fourth-rounder in 2003) for Bure.

Who did the Panthers take with those top picks?

Petr Taticek and Rob Globke.

Good stuff.