The former Flyer announced his retirement Monday morning.
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Briere, a first-round pick (No. 24 overall) by the Coyotes in 1996, played in 973 regular season games, scoring 307 goals and recording 389 assists.
“But you come to a point where you have to think about your life, their life and who you’re affecting with your decisions”, Briere said.
Briere, 37, played with five teams during his career. After a 49-point season in 2011-12, Briere put up another stellar playoff performance with 13 points (8G, 5A), including an overtime game-winner in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. New Jersey.
Throughout his career in the playoffs, Briere recorded 116 points in 124 games and ranks 4th among all active players. “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”. “I’ve had a great time in Philadelphia and have been very, very fortunate to have the chance to play here”, Briere said.
The 2006-2007 season would end up being Briere’s last with the Buffalo Sabres – and boy, was it a good one. He hit a career-high in assists (63) and matched his career-best 32 goals during the regular season. His 30 points in 23 games of the Flyers’ improbable 2010 Stanley Cup run is a team record.
In his piece for La Presse, Briere expressed interest in someday working for the Flyers, but stressed that he doesn’t have that job yet.
Free agency hit that summer, and Briere signed on with the Philadelphia Flyers.
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Now, he hangs up the skates, but it’s a great time to look back – what’s your favorite memory of Briere during his time with the Buffalo Sabres? He put up another seven goals in 11 playoff games before the Flyers fell to Boston in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
