 Never drafted by an NHL team, he was signed as a free agent by the Calgary Flames after scoring 54 goals for the Longueuil Chevaliers in 1986-87.With Calgary's logjam at the centre position, Bureau was traded to Minnesota for a third round choice (Sandy McCarthy) in 1991.He was claimed by the newly formed Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft, where he would enjoy his most successful years in the NHL.