August 17, 2015
After a 17-year professional career that included 696 points, Danny Briere has decided to call it quits. The former Flyers (not to mention Coyotes, Sabres, Canadiens, and Avalanche) center played in Philly from 2007 to 2013.
“After taking a few weeks to think about it, it’s time to hang them up and spend a little more time at home with the family,” Briere said in a statement released by the team. “I’ve been very, very fortunate to have a chance to play with some great organizations, but at this point the family becomes a priority. The Flyers are where I played the bulk of my career. I’ve had a great time in Philadelphia and have been very, very fortunate to have the chance to play here. I would like to thank Mr. Snider, Paul Holmgren and Peter Luukko along with the coaches, staff, the fans and all my teammates. It’s been a great ride in an area that I still call home.”
An undersized player, Briere’s speed and skill level were his calling cards. A strong playoff performer, he scored a franchise-record 30 points (12G, 18A) in 23 games as the Flyers made a run all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010. Four of the 12 goals were game-winners. In case you’re feeling nostalgic on a Monday afternoon, YouTube has all of those points cut into a tidy little highlight reel:
Besides his contributions on the ice, Briere was a mentor to a couple of current Flyers when they initially joined the team. In fact, who can forget the 24/7 clip with Briere’s family and their houseguest, 18-year-old rookie Sean Couturier?
Today marks the end of a very solid career for Briere. There were a lot of memorable sweeping fist pump celebrations when he wore the orange and black.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
