SUNRISE, Fla., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Florida Panthers right wing Valeri Bure, who was reunited with his superstar brother in the offseason, has had knee surgery that will sideline him two to three months.
Bure was sent home from a Western Canadian road trip Thursday and underwent an MRI Friday that revealed a significant tear of the medial meniscus in his right knee.
Surgery was performed late Friday.
Through six games, Bure had a goal and assist before being sent home. Without him, the Panthers suffered a 3-1 loss at Calgary on Thursday, dropping to 1-5-1-0.
Bure, 27, was part of a purge in Calgary, where the Flames hired a new coach and shook up their roster after a fifth straight non-playoff season. Bure was dealt to Florida along with center Jason Wiemer for center Rob Niedermayer and a second-round pick.
Bure was the key to the deal for Florida, especially if he is able to mesh with brother Pavel, who is one of the best players in the league.
Valeri Bure has 140 goals and 164 assists in seven NHL seasons. He earned a spot on the 2000 All-Star team alongside his brother en route to a career-high 35-goal season. But he slumped in 2000-01, finishing with 27 goals, 28 assists and a team-worst rating of minus-21.
