As the sun set over Fort Erie a few hours later, Briere sat in an upscale restaurant overlooking Canalside and couldn’t contain a smile. It was a surreal moment for the former Sabres co-captain and All-Star Game MVP. He couldn’t help but recall how it felt the first time he was traded, the Phoenix Coyotes dealing him for center Chris Gratton at the 2003 deadline.
“I remember when I got traded to Buffalo,” Briere said. “It was a weird feeling because when you’re first told, it’s a moment of rejection. Your team says, ‘We’re getting rid of you.’
“Then a few minutes later the other team calls and says, ‘You’re coming to us. We’re excited. Welcome.’ You are still wanted.”
Briere was on the other side of the phone Tuesday. He sat down with The Athletic to explain how his first trade all went down.
Please note that some of the questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Why are you having such a hard time concealing that smile?
First of all, it’s my first trade, and it was a very complicated one. I’ve never even done a two-way trade before. I need a little bit of a road map to explain it to you. I guess I couldn’t start with a simple trade, one player for one player. I had to get really deep, I guess. That’s why I’m laughing.
How did the experience start for you?
The trade started with us and Columbus. Then we realized we needed help to close the deal, and that’s why a third team came in for us to get it done. Now, every team is getting a little of what they were looking for. Columbus gets the best player in the trade. L.A. gets some cap relief and some players. For us, it was about acquiring young prospects and draft capital.
How long did it take?
I’ve had a few weeks of discussions with Columbus on Provorov. They were clearly interested, but we couldn’t close the deal. We needed help cap-wise. (Kings GM) Rob Blake was the first person I approached with it, and he was very receptive. It made sense for him; it made sense for us.
So when you’re making your first trade, how do you know who to trust to add to the dance, when you’ve never done the dance before?
It was interesting. I have a little bit of a background with Rob Blake. When I was in my early 20s, I used to train in California, and he was around. I’ve known him (for) a lot of years. He also has been close with Pat Brisson, who was my agent. I had trust in Rob from the beginning. As far as (Blue Jackets GM) Jarmo Kekalainen in Columbus, I’ve gotten to know him in the last 2 1/2 months since I was named GM. It just shows how well we all worked together that nobody knew what was happening until the trade was announced.
Had you come close to making a trade before this one?
No, there were no talks until the season was over. I came in after the trade deadline, and this was the first real negotiation.
What was new Flyers president Keith Jones’ role in this process?
He was awesome. Keith has a lot of contacts. He was very helpful in opening doors. He’s well known around the hockey world and was very supportive. He had feedback on everything we should do. The part I’m most proud of is how every department came together on our side, management, pro scouting, amateur scouting, even our analytics team had some great ideas to broker this deal. It wasn’t just “Danny Briere made a trade.” It was a collection of talented people.
Does this trade make the job official?
(Laughing) I’m glad the first one is over with. I can move on.
When did you know you wanted to be a GM?
I don’t know that I ever wanted to strictly be a GM. I was open to all kinds of things. I just knew I was more geared toward management than coaching. I knew that from the beginning, but I never knew what my position was going to be.
The reason I ask is because with all of the universities that offer sports management (programs) and with (how) you can rise through the ranks with an MBA or a law degree, there are a lot of people who get into the industry because the idea of making player moves is exciting to them.
It’s not about making the moves. For me, it’s about assembling the building blocks through a vision, working with people. That’s what I love, sharing a common goal. It’s about winning together. That’s the thrill for me. That’s why it’s not about my first trade. It’s about how we all worked together.
How did it feel as the process escalated?
There’s a little thrill when you feel you’re getting close and have traction toward a deal. I’m not trying to figure that out, when is the right time to get excited about it or not, because there’s been a lot of different talks over the months. But it definitely felt a little different when I woke up today, spoke to those guys and was able to close it out.
What were the phone calls like with the players involved?
I had to call the players we were giving away, and that was awkward. That was not so much fun. But then you call the other guys, and you’re excited to welcome new players to the team. Those calls were a little easier to make.
Through the process, since it was your first time, how did you look back on how other GMs you’ve been exposed to would have done it?
I look back on a lot of those GMs that I’ve dealt with over the course of my career from the outside. Darcy Regier had a certain way to go about things in Buffalo. Paul Holmgren did things his way and was very aggressive because (we) were in a position to win in Philly. Marc Bergevin wanted building blocks when I got to Montreal and was more interested in character. My last year that I played in Colorado, I was in the beginning of their rebuild with Nate MacKinnon. All of it has been very interesting to see along the way, and it has allowed me to take the best of what I’ve seen from the different GMs along the way.
The old saying is that when a good deal is made, all sides end up a little dissatisfied. What’s your takeaway in that vein?
Look, we had to give up a lot to get what we got. That’s the important part about a trade. But I hope all three teams came away from this situation happy and got what they were looking for and needed.
How will your new assets fit into the Flyers’ master plan?
We have three high picks and a prospect that we’ll find out about exactly. We have the seventh and 22nd picks in this year’s draft now. Grans is only 21 years old and was a second-round pick in 2020. And then we got two veterans that can come and help out our young guys. I’m excited about what we got, but we did give up the best player in the deal. That’s always a little scary.
To me, it’s a rebuild, but I don’t believe in teardowns. We don’t need to completely strip away everything. I want some veteran leaders there to show the young guys what it means to be a pro and handle themselves. That’s important for the young guys. I want to be careful with that. I don’t want to lose on purpose. I don’t believe in tanking. I still want our team to play hard and be competitive and make the push. It’s going to be our job to find those players to surround them.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
