Daniel Briere, who won the AHL’s Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as rookie of the year in 1998 before embarking on an all-star National Hockey League career, announced his retirement on Monday.
Briere, 37, began his professional playing career as a 20-year-old with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons in 1997-98. He recorded 36 goals and 56 assists for 92 points in 68 games with the Falcons and was named the league’s outstanding rookie.
Briere recorded eight points in 13 games with the Falcons in 1998-99, and spent most of the 1999-2000 season with Springfield as well, totaling 29 goals and 42 assists for 71 points in 58 contests. Briere continued to tear up the AHL in 2000-01, posting 21 goals and 25 assists in 30 games before finally earning a full-time spot in the National Hockey League.
Briere would play 973 games over 17 seasons in the NHL with Phoenix, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Montreal and Colorado, amassing 307 goals and 389 assists for 696 points. He added 116 points in 124 postseason games, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers in 2010.
A native of Gatineau, Que., Briere made one final appearance in the AHL with the Philadelphia Phantoms in 2008-09, notching one goal and four assists during a three-game conditioning stint. He totaled 89 goals and 133 assists for 222 points in 172 career AHL games.
