Daniel Brière

Daniel Jean-Claude Brière (born October 6, 1977) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former professional ice hockey centre. He is currently the general manager for the Philadelphia Flyers. He played parts of 9 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Phoenix Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, and Colorado Avalanche. He also played for SC Bern of the Nationalliga A (NLA) and Eisbären Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

He is a two-time All-Star, being selected in 2007 and 2011.

Career
Before playing in the NHL, Brière played three seasons with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He had a successful time with the Voltigeurs. He was named as the winner of both the Michel Bergeron Trophy for league rookie of the year and the Marcel Robert Trophy for scholastic player of the year. In 1995, he was named as the winner of the Jean Béliveau Trophy for being the leading scorer of the league. He also won the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player.

He was selected 24th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 1996 NHL entry draft. He was immediately sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Springfield Falcons. On March 19, 1998, the Coyotes called Brière up and he made his NHL debut in a 4–3 loss against the Colorado Avalanche. Two days later, on March 21, Brière scored his first NHL goal against Dan Cloutier in a 3–2 loss against the Los Angeles Kings.

On March 10, 2003, the Coyotes traded Brière along with a 2004 third-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Chris Gratton and a 2004 fourth-round pick. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he traveled overseas and played for SC Bern of the Nationalliga A (NLA). He played 36 games with them, scoring 17 goals and recording 29 assists. He helped the Sabres make it to the playoffs for he first time in five years. The Sabres defeated the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators. They were defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup winning Carolina Hurricanes four games to three. On August 5, 2006, Brière signed a one-year, $5 million contract to stay with the Sabres. The next season, he was selected to play in his first All-Star Game.

On July 1, 2007, Brière signed an eight-year, $52 million contract to join the Philadelphia Flyers. He had a successful time with the Flyers. He helped bring the Flyers from the worst team in the NHL to becoming a playoff team. He helped them during the playoffs, defeating the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens. They were defeated by their rivals, Pittsburgh Penguins four games to one in the Eastern Conference final. On January 13, 2009, after suffering a groin injury, the Flyers sent him down to play with the Philadelphia Phantoms. He helped the Flyers again during the playoffs, defeating the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. They were defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks four games to two in the Finals. On January 19, 2011, Brière was selected as a replacement Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla in the All-Star Game. On June 18, 2013, the Flyers bought out Briere's contract.

On July 4, 2013, Brière signed a two-year, $8 million contract to join the Montreal Canadiens. On October 19, he was injured with a concussion after being hit in the head by Nashville Predators player Eric Nystrom.

On June 30, 2014, the Canadiens traded Brière to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for P. A. Parenteau and a 2015 fifth-round draft pick. He played 57 games with the Avalanche, scoring 8 goals and recording 4 assists.

On August 17, 2015, Brière announced that he was retiring from playing professional ice hockey.

Management career
On March 10, 2023, the Flyers fired president and general manager Chuck Fletcher and announced that Brière was their new interim general manager. On May 11, they decided to remove the interim tag and make him their permanent general manager.

References

 Other websites 

Category:1977 births
Category:Living people
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Canadian ice hockey centres
Category:Colorado Avalanche players
Category:Drummondville Voltigeurs players
Category:Ice hockey people from Quebec
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:People from Gatineau
Category:Philadelphia Flyers players
Category:Philadelphia Phantoms players
Category:Phoenix Coyotes players
Category:Springfield Falcons players