Unfortunately for Vlasic, he would never get the opportunity to share the same ice as Bure, whose last NHL season was 2002-03.
"I remember my first year (2006-07) thinking how lucky I was to play against guys like Joe Sakic, Brendan Shanahan, Keith Tkachuk, Mike Modano, Bill Guerin and Rob Blake," Vlasic said. "There are so many more I'm probably forgetting. But, those players are the dream matchups you hope for. It would have been nice to test yourself against Bure."
Vlasic, 29, is still holding out hope he can meet the man dubbed The Russian Rocket and perhaps convince him to strap on the skates one more time.
"Who knows?" he said. "Somehow if he reads this, maybe it could happen. That would be the ultimate."
So, too, would be winning the World Cup with Team Canada.
"I can't wait," Vlasic said. "I know most of the guys and it's going to be a lot of fun."
Players that Vlasic has plenty of experience competing against in the NHL.
"It's part of what hockey is," he said. "When the puck drops, you play hard. When the game is over, you can be friends. It's the way hockey works. Take Sidney Crosby, for example. We faced-off against one another in the Stanley Cup Finals and we each had to do whatever it took to win out there. Now, we are teammates and I couldn't be more than happy to wear the same jersey as him."
No word yet on whether Crosby can help broker a meeting between Vlasic and Bure.