SAN JOSE The handwriting on the wall has Pavel Bure in a Rangers uniform.
Given repeated chances to squash the rumors about his interest in coming to New York, the Vancouver right wing again refused to convert the opportunity in Anaheim Wednesday night. His new agent, Mike Gillis, showed similar reluctance to smother the speculation brushfire yesterday.
“There are a number of issues that involve contract matters and other things with the Vancouver Canucks, and those issues have to be resolved,” said Gillis, who refused to specify the content of the issues but added he has made them clear to Vancouver GM Pat Quinn.
“Conversations (with Quinn) are scheduled to be imminent, and there is a clear priority to have the kind of conversations necessary to settle the issues,” Gillis said. “I want to have the conversations as quickly as possible. I want to get these discussions underway.

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Asked if his client had a no-trade clause, Gillis replied, “No, he doesn’t ha ve one.

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Asked if Bure had submitted a list of cities to which he would like to be traded to, Gillis said, “No, the conversations haven’t gone that far yet.

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Yet? It’s as though Bure is walking around with an open ticket to JFK in his pocket and he’s just waiting to fill in the date of departure.
Yes, Bure has made lovely music with Mark Messier in Canuck workouts so far. And yes, Bure says, “Mark is one of the greatest players. He’s great to play with, he’s a great leader, so it’s such an honor to play with him.

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When asked if the honor of playing with Messier was enough to change his mind and squelch his desire to leave Vancouver a desire he reportedly made clear to Quinn a few weeks ago the rocket-fast Russian replied: “It’s not a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.

‘ It was my answer. I haven’t changed my mind at all.

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About leaving the Vancouver Canucks?
“You guys don’t know, because it was a private conversation with Pat Quinn, so you guys don’t know what we were talking about,” Bure said after the Canucks’ 5-0 loss to the Mighty Ducks in Anaheim Wednesday. “I just can tell you one thing: I haven’t changed my mind, and I won’t.

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Rangers president manager Neil Smith is believed very interested in the right wing, even if his pressing need is at center. Smith needs Bure’s speed and offensive skills and he has a wealth of numbers at defense, the position of Vancouver’s sorriest weakness. Canucks rookie Mattias Ohlund is going to be a player, but after that, you’re looking at Jyrkki Lumme, Grant Ledyard, Dave Babych, Adrian Aucoin, Dana Murzyn, Bret Hedican, rookie Brad Ference and 6-7 prospect Chris McAllister.
“New York? A nice city,” Bure said in Anaheim. “I like to go there and visit. I’ve got lots of friends there. What else can I say? I’m working for the Canucks today, and that’s where I belong for now.

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For how much longer is anybody’s guess.
The 26-year-old Bure has had several significant injuries, most recently a whiplash suffered March 3 that cost him the rest of last season. Knee reconstruction knocked Bure out of all but 15 games of the 1995-96 season, but Bure was flying on Messier’s right Wednesday night in those very rare moments when Blaine Angus and Rob Shick weren’t calling penalties.
Bure has two years, at $5.

5 million and $5 million, remaining on the five-year, $24.

5-million deal he signed after the Canucks went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994. Apparently, there are other things in the contract which, if not corrected to Bure’s satisfaction, might just bring him a lot closer to his New York friends.