BY BRIDGET WENTWORTH 
Star-Ledger Staff 

The Florida Panthers are willing to discuss Pavel Bure with anyone, but whether they will trade him by Tuesday's deadline is another matter. 
The Rangers could use Bure at the spot recently vacated by Radek Dvorak, who went down Wednesday with a season-ending knee injury. But the Panthers are playing down the significance of the chase for their speedy forward -- or just trying to increase the asking price -- because they can wait until the summer to deal Bure. 

"The only type of deals offered now is if you're willing to move proven players for young prospects and young NHLers and picks," Florida interim general manager Chuck Fletcher told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. "That's one element we need to improve, but we also have to look at adding some veteran players. But what contending NHL team is going to offer veteran, quality hockey players right now? They're going to keep them for their own playoff run. They're all trying to win the Stanley Cup." 

Bure's agent, Mike Gillis, also represents Devils center Bobby Holik. Yesterday, Holik said at practice that Gillis was in New York. A league official said late last night Gillis had not met with the Rangers. There has been speculation that a reworking of Bure's three-year, $31 million contract would be essential in any trade for the talented winger, an issue Gillis would have to take up with Rangers general manager Glen Sather. 

Holik can become an unrestricted free agent after the season and Gillis has been talking to Devils GM Lou Lamoriello about a new deal. 
The Rangers, Dallas and Colorado are believed to be the three teams with the most interest in Bure. Nobody from the Rangers organization would comment on the situation last night. 

It is believed third-year center Mike York is the centerpiece of the Rangers' offer for Bure, with veteran defenseman Igor Ulanov and 19-year-old defense prospect Filip Novak included. York and Ulanov could step right into Florida's lineup, while the Panthers would likely have to wait on Novak. 

"We don't have to do anything," Fletcher said. "We're a club that has (48) points. Realistically we're competing for next year. The teams that are calling us have to do something to improve their team for this season."