Briere ready for season
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Briere ready for season
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers open their training camp Sept. 17 _ and Danny Briere, coming off a sensational playoff performance, is anxious to begin.
Briere sat down with the Flyers' PR staff Friday for a Q and A:
Q: Danny, are you back in town to stay?
DB: “Yes, I’m back in town and will be ready for the start of training camp. I might leave town here and there for charity events but for the most part I’m back to stay. I am so excited to be back, too. I’m looking forward to the new season. Yes, the break was short because we played so long but that is a good problem to have. I’m sure I speak for a lot of the other guys, but for me, the playoff run was so much fun. All the emotion and the way we came together as a team was really special. I’m so excited for this season to begin.”
Q: It looks like you lost weight. Did you?
DB: “My weight, which is 170 pounds right now, is actually the same as when we were playing in the playoffs last season. I had some personal issues to deal with during the first half of the season last year and I lost a lot of weight. I was able to gain a little bit more going down the stretch. But I’m still about 10 pounds lighter than I have been the last three training camps. After the way things went in the playoffs last year I decided it worked out well at this weight and I wanted to stay at this weight. I’m a little lighter and I wanted to work a little more on my quickness. Obviously, I’m not a guy who is around here for fighting. My assets are my quickness and I feel being 10 pounds lighter should help me for next season.”
Q: Do you feel better/healthier at 170 pounds?
DB: “I do feel a lot better hovering around 170 right now. I feel lighter and quicker on the ice. I just started skating and I definitely feel a different compared to when I started at last year’s training camp.”
Q: You set a Flyers franchise record for playoff scoring in a single season last year. Did you expect to be that effective in the playoffs?
DB: “No, not at all. Things got rolling. The first playoff series against New Jersey was tough to get going. I don’t think me and Jeff Carter had a single point in the first three games of that series. Then we got hit by some injuries and we needed some guys to step up. I was asked to play a bigger role and was given more responsibilities. My confidence grew with these added responsibilities. I felt good and all of a sudden Peter (Laviolette) ended up putting me, Scott Hartnell, who had somewhat of a tough year like I did, and Ville Leino, who barely played up to that point, together. There probably wasn’t much expected from our line but for some reason chemistry set in right away and things got rolling. It was amazing. It is one of the best feelings in the world when every shift you are going out there you have the feeling you are going to make something happen and you have the chance to score. I know I had a blast playing with those two guys in the playoffs. I am praying that the chemistry stays right off the get-go at the start of next season.”
Q: You set a franchise record for playoff scoring and Ville set a franchise record for playoff scoring for a rookie. Do you think this confidence can carry over to this upcoming season?
DB: “It is not going to happen on its own. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done amongst us. But the one thing that you can’t force right away is chemistry. You either have instant chemistry or you don’t. We had it right from the get-go. We have that on our side. I believe if we work hard it seems that the three of us will be on the right path. But all said, yes, I think we can pick up where we left off in the playoffs.”
Q: What are the team’s expectations and what are your personal expectations for this season?
DB: “For the team there is no other way around it. We have to get back to where we were. We were two wins away from our goal of bringing this city a Stanley Cup. That’s the goal again, the Stanley Cup. There is no doubt about it. I think we have every element in place for that to happen. We need some breaks here and there to go our way. But I seriously believe that we have a team that can get back there and maybe even improve. For me personally, I honestly don’t know. I want to have fun. I want to get back to where the way our line was playing with me, Ville and Scott. Right now, that is all I am hoping for.”
Q: Will this team miss Simon Gagne?
DB: “Yes. He was a big piece. There’s no doubt about it. He was a big part of this team for a long time. But we replaced him with some new players. Leadership-wise, I think we will be fine. Sean O’Donnell has been in the league for a long time. He knows a few of the players in the locker room. On the ice we have guys like Claude Giroux, van Riemsdyk, Zherdev and even me, Scott and Ville to a certain extent. We have to step up to the plate from last year and pick up some of the slack left from Simon’s departure.”
I am gonna miss Gagne. The D they brought in does not replace him.— P Even- I will miss Gagne. He was a solid two way player that let his game speak for him.— keith7470
- No need to miss Gags. Just get the hockey package and watch your Tampa Bay Lightening fool around while we enjoy Flyer hockey. Be happy about the team we have, you guys.— Blvd Al
good article. Thanks Danny— Inchon- With player movements under the salary, it's just a game of musical chairs where a tiny percentage of players will enjoy a career on just one team. Loyalty is out the window and it's just each team getting their turn at the brass ring. I just enjoy the game for the sake of the game....— Ticogringomike
- Brierre was phenomenal in the playoffs but he needs to have a good regular season. The one area thet gags will be missed in on the PK. Richie and him were a great tandem, who steps into that role?— Fabulous
- I liked Gagne as well, but his career was marred by injuries. He never plays a full season and he's getting older. I think they had take some risks with their cap inflexibility, and I like the way our team looks. Scoring could be a major issue if Zherdev doesn't pan out, but that's what the trade deadline is for.
- That's true, Tico. But honestly, there were only a handful of guys that played there entire career with one team before the salary cap came into place. The last ones that I can think of were Yzerman and Sakic...and they were world class athletes. That does bring up an interesting question. Who was the last Flyer to spend his entire career with the organization? Let's say...minimum of 7 seasons...— hoser24
One thing I will not miss is that fool Coatsey - some second cousin of the buffoon "Wheels" - telling the world Gagne is "a flat out burner", when opposing teams were NEVER scared of his speed. He seemed like a very gracious man, though. I wish him well. I am Oppressed.— Nutron- LET'S GO FLYERS!— kozykoz26
- Briere escaped serious injury from a major car wreck this summer. Wonder why that wasn't mentioned in this article.— Snap Crackle Propp
- Nutron: You better watch what you say about Coatsey, he is a great man so watch you mouth fool. He is nothing like "Wheels," and you are an idiot.— Flyers2822
- the team is what it is. it will be different without Gagne but that does not mean not as good... they have good (maybe even great) players and they have the potential to go all the way back to the Stanley Cup finals... that goal was a fluke and they have learned from that mistake... i cannot wait for the season - LET'S GO FLYERS!— vk1355
- I would have loved to keep Gagne, but the salary cap is a new factor and unfortunately it put him in a bad spot. Hopefully spreading Gagne's ice time to Leino, Zherdev, and Giroux will pick up the slack.— General Turgidson
- I still can't believe we have Carcillo. He is a liability. Go Flyers!— Could.It.Really.Be...ColonelAngus
