In this age of analytics, the word “clutch” has become somewhat taboo, but how else would you describe a player who scored 13 game-winning goals and 116 points in 124 Stanley Cup playoff games?
Daniel Briere’s legacy hasn’t much to do with his shot attempt statistics, and everything to do with his propensity to score big goals at key moments.
The highlight of his 17-season NHL career was a 12-goal, 18-assist playoff performance in 2010, leading the league in post-season scoring and helping the Philadelphia Flyers to their first Stanley Cup final in 13 years.
The Flyers fell short of their ultimate goal, but if not for Briere’s heroics, it’s hard to imagine they would have had a chance at all.
On the international scene, he scored 28 points in 30 games and won gold medals in all four of his appearances with Canada’s national team; two in the junior ranks at the U18 Ivan Hlinka Tournament and World Junior Championship, and two in the professional ranks at the World Championship.
Towards the end of his career, Briere endured some challenging lowlights. The Flyers, who he spent five seasons with, bought out the final two years of his contract in 2013. Briere then joined the Montreal Canadiens, a team he grew up cheering for, but was traded to Colorado one year later. In his last NHL season with the Avalanche, Briere was scratched on several occasions and managed just eight goals and 12 points in 57 games. He suffered through concussions, too.
But even as he struggled at the end of his career, Briere upheld his reputation for coming through in the clutch.
Perhaps the greatest example of that was his goal and assist in Montreal’s Game 7 win over the Boston Bruins in 2014. Briere played just nine shifts for a total of 8:06 of ice time, but his contribution helped the Canadiens reach the Eastern Conference final for just the second time in 22 years.
What shouldn’t be forgotten is how courageously the 5-foot-9, 174-pound Briere played to achieve the long career he had and what an inspiration he was to other small players.
“[Briere] is still reminding me to work hard and that you never know what can happen to you,” 5-foot-9 Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau said in January.
Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau – listed at 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds – grew up idolizing Briere from his childhood home in New Jersey. Canadiens Brendan Gallagher and David Desharnais often spoke of the inspiration Briere provided them when they were growing up, too.
In addition to leaving his mark on hockey in several ways, Briere’s graciousness and class in his dealings with the media set him apart.
Now Briere, a father to three teenage boys, will focus on other things and move to the next stage in his life.
“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 my family,” Briere said in a release.
In 973 career NHL games, Briere scored 307 goals and 389 assists with the Phoenix Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche.
