For Danny Briere, life has always been about hockey.
After completing high school, Briere jumped right into the junior level to try to make a name for himself with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL.
He didn't have time for internships or college courses. Just hockey.
Briere's commitment to the game paid off. He was drafted by the Coyotes in the first round of the 1996 NHL draft and went on to record 696 points in almost 1,000 games between the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Coyotes and Flyers.
The Flyers will honor Briere, who retired this past summer, for his career accomplishments before Tuesday night's game against the Sabres at the Wells Fargo Center (see story).
Now that his playing days are over, the 38-year-old has plenty of extra time on his hands. It wasn’t long before an opportunity to rejoin the Flyers came knocking, however.
Flyers president Paul Holmgren reached out to Briere a few months ago to see if he'd be interested in learning a few things about the business side of the operation.
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"He just asked me if it was something that would interest me, to kind of follow him and learn from him a little bit of what he’s doing, what his job entails. He told me it’s a little more on the business side but it might be a good thing for you," Briere said of his discussion with Holmgren.
"He ran the idea by Mr. Snider and [chief operating officer] Shawn Tilger, and they were OK with it. Really, Shawn has been amazing as well, giving me the chance and opening all those doors for me to learn more and more."
Just like that, Briere traded his gear for a suit.
Holmgren has taken him under his wing, perhaps paving the way for Briere to one day join the team’s front office.
Right now, there's no pay involved though. Briere doesn't have set hours or an official job description, either.
He’s simply volunteering his time.
"For so many years my meetings were about power play, the system, and the teams we were facing," Briere said. "Now I have the chance to see behind the door what it’s like to sell tickets and season tickets ... so it’s pretty cool. It gets me out of my comfort zone and it’s something that I didn’t know anything about.”
Briere spent six seasons playing in Philadelphia. Many former players tend to express an interest in coaching or scouting after they hang up the skates, but Briere's still trying to figure out where he’d fit in.
"The hockey side I know how to look at," he said. "How I understand the game, I’m not saying I’m an expert at scouting, but I can tell with some players who does well by how they move, how they skate and how they shoot. But this really takes me out of my comfort zone and learning something new and something that I didn’t know much about.
“Hockey is what I know. This opportunity with the Flyers gives me the chance to open up, not doors, but my horizon. I love hockey and I would love to stay in the hockey world somehow, but I haven’t decided in what capacity at this point. The most important part for me, the priority, is work and spending time with the kids. But that’s why I’m not ready yet to fully commit to anything at this point, but I’m sure in the near future that will come.”
One thing is for sure: Briere is impressed with what Ron Hextall has done in his short time as general manager of the Flyers.
“It looks like they’re going in the right direction," Briere said. "Just look at all the good young players that are not even near and are still in the juniors or minors and I think that’s exciting. It’s really looking good three, four, five years down the road. Hopefully all these guys with high draft picks and high-rated prospects, to have so many it’s a big advantage and I can’t wait to see where all of these guys end up in three to four years and what they can do.”
Briere might have a front-row view of what the team’s prospects can do if he catches on quick as an executive.
But he’s in no rush to begin a brand new career. He’s just enjoying the opportunity to learn a few things.
It’s no fun sitting around the house, anyway.
"It keeps me out of trouble," Briere said. "The kids are at school during the day, so instead of just staying home ... you can only work out for so long. I just jump in the car and come [to the Skate Zone] or come downtown to Wells Fargo. I like it."