Flyers centre Brière just doesn't do it for Canadiens

"Too small, and way too expensive to draw interest from Montreal."
By PAT HICKEY, The Gazette -- June 16, 2009

The Canadiens are not interested in acquiring centre Daniel Brière and it has nothing to do with the fact he snubbed the team two years ago when he was an unrestricted free agent.

Brière has a no-movement clause in the eight-year, $52-million contract he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007, but the franchise has hopes of creating some cap space.

The folks in Philly have talked to the Canadiens and the Los Angeles Kings, but neither team was interested. There also is a report that they have talked to the Phoenix Coyotes, although you have to wonder whether anyone has the authority to talk on behalf of the team that may or may not be bankrupt and/or on the way to Hamilton.

Montreal passed on Brière because, despite their previous interest, the last thing they need is a small centre with a cap hit of $6.5 million for each of the next six seasons.

The 31-year-old Brière is listed as 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, but those figures stretch the truth.

There also are concerns about Brière's health. He went on the injured list three times last season with a variety of abdominal and groin problems. He did score 11 goals and 14 assists in only 29 games and he might have played more if the Flyers hadn't been up against the cap.

His final return to the lineup was delayed because Philadelphia didn't have enough cap room to activate him. They finally made room by waiving Glen Metropolit, who was picked up by the Canadiens, and Ossi Vaananen, who went to Vancouver.

Brière said he chose Philadelphia over Montreal because it offered him a chance for relative anonymity. He also found some comfort in the presence of his good friend and former Buffalo teammate, Marty Biron, who might not be a Flyer much longer. Biron is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and there might not be room for him in Philadelphia.

The Flyers have lured NHL prodigal Ray Emery back from Russia and are still up against the cap with more than $51 million U.S. committed to 18 players. The Flyers are looking at Robert Esche, another goaltender who sampled life in Russia, as their backup.

Gillett satisfied with offers: Meanwhile back at the ranch, we're still waiting for Canadiens owner George Gillett to formally announce he's selling the team, but that hasn't stemmed the flow of offers.

Jacques Ménard of BMO Financial Group, who has been put in charge of reviewing Gillett's local assets, said yesterday that Gillett is satisfied with the process and with the offers he has received for the team, the Bell Centre and his concert business.

Three Quebec groups have publicly announced that they have submitted bids for the assets. It is believed that there are also three bidders from outside the province, but none of them have stepped forward.

REVO'S NOTE: Lots of talk about the Flyers attempting to move/dump Danny entering this season after Briere's injury-filled 08-09 campaign. I can imagine that Homer is attempting to explore all options when it comes to dumping salary this offseason and rumored trades are one thing - seeing all kinds of talk about buyouts and waivers... Danny had a very successful postseason in 07-08, no? Was Danny not a huge part of a very dangerous Philly power play unit? Danny has a very hefty contract and large cap hit - something that's not helping Homer out at the moment... but let's spare the guy the chatter on buyouts and waivers. He may not as of yet proven he's worth every penny, but he's definitely capable of doing so.