After 17 seasons and five teams, Danny Briere officially ended his NHL career on Monday — a decision he said was hard, but ultimately the right move.
Holding court on Tuesday with members of the Flyers' press corps — the same reporters Briere would meet with after each game in the bulk of his Flyers career — Briere said one last goodbye to the game, and recounted some memories in the Orange and Black.
"Thank you to the five organizations that I’ve played with in the NHL, there’s something special about all of them," Briere told reporters. "It was probably the biggest decision of my career when I came to the Flyers — the biggest and the toughest– but one I certainly don’t regret."
Briere also offered a wide variety of thank-yous to those who helped make his career possible — ranging from family, to Flyers management, to teammates and coaches, to women who have helped him out (namely his ex-wife Sylvie and current fiancee Misha), and his three sons.
"There are many things I’d like to do going forward, but the first and foremost priority is the boys," Briere said. "The biggest reason I’m stepping away is to spend more time with them."
Though Briere signed with Montreal in 2013 and spent 2014-15 in Colorado, he still kept his home in Haddonfield, N.J. He cited a desire to watch his sons grow up and play sports in high school, while being there for them as they grow older. In fact, when the Canadiens would come to Wells Fargo Center and meet the Flyers, the team allowed Briere to stay at his Haddonfield residence instead of the team hotel.
Briere spent six seasons as a Flyer from 2007-2013, scoring 124 goals and 283 points in 364 games. He posted a career-high 34 goals as a Flyer in 2010-11.
But perhaps Briere will be best remembered for his automatic scoring in the playoffs, which led to his 'Mr. Playoffs' moniker. In 62 playoff games with the Orange and Black, Briere scored 36 goals and 68 points — making him just one of five Flyers (along with Ken Lineseman, Peter Forsberg, Eric Lindros and Claude Giroux) to average more than one point per playoff game.
[See also: Danny Briere's finest moments as a Flyer]Admittedly, Briere's favorite memory as a Flyer came in the magical 2010 run to the Stanley Cup Final — though he expressed regret that the team came just two wins short of its third Cup victory.
"If I had to pick one, it’d be that two-month stretch in 2010, that playoffs," Briere said. "Making the playoffs in a shootout on the last day of the season, against the best shootout goalie in the league, and taking that all the way to the Stanley Cup Final."
When Briere signed a seven-year, $52 million contract with the Flyers in 2007, it signified that the Flyers were ready to compete again. The team had finished in last place the year before with a 22-48-12 record and 56 points — the worst season in franchise history. Briere cited moves that the team made — such as previously acquiring Scottie Upshall, Braydon Coburn, Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen, Joffrey Lupul, Jason Smith and Marty Biron (a friend from their days with the Buffalo Sabres) — as big factors in his decision to sign. Briere also turned down a more lucrative offer to play with the Canadiens in his home province in Quebec, which, as you may remember, led to loud choruses of boos when he touched the puck on Bell Centre ice.
"When I signed with the Flyers, I really thought this was the best opportunity to win," Briere said. "There’s no doubt in my mind the team was turning around, and it was my best chance to win."
Briere's decision to retire wasn't an easy one, as it required much deliberation since the end of the Avalanche season in April. Ultimately, it's a decision he feels is best.
"I was going back and forth many times, but there’s no doubt I’m comfortable with my decision," Briere said. "At this point, I feel like it’s time and I’m making a good decision."
Additionally, the Flyers will honor Briere prior to an Oct. 27 game against the Sabres — similar to their honoring of Kimmo Timonen prior to the Oct. 14 game against Chicago. There's also the possibility of a front-office job with the organization — something that Briere said he will discuss in the coming weeks with team president Paul Holmgren.
The physical demands of the NHL are quite rigorous for any 37-year-old to handle, let alone one with the physical skills and talents of Briere's. As such, it often feels like a career has to end on an unceremonious note. Briere, however, feels differently about how his career has come to an end.
"I don’t feel like I’m getting pushed out," Briere said. "It’s my decision, it’s time to go, time to let someone take my spot…I fought, I never quit and I kept working hard to achieve my dream."
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
