Jeff Price (no relation) Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 First post! Okay, okay. I know, a lot of people didn't like Briere's $4 million a year, 2 year contract. I can't say I've always been positive about it either. Four million for 25 points in 63 games seems like overpaying to most of us, and I'd agree. However, I don't believe Marc Bergevin signed Briere for his regular season heroics. In fact, the Habs generally have not had trouble getting into the playoffs over the last twenty years - they just haven't gone very far once they got there. Briere is one player who can help change that. Let's look at his numbers, historically, in seasons where he's made the playoffs. 2012 - Only 49 points with the flyers in the regular season, but 7 goals and 13 points in 11 playoff games. 2011 - a decent 68 points in the regular season, but 7 goals and 9 points in 11 playoff games. 2010 - just 53 points in the regular season, but a stunning 12 goals and 30 points in 23 playoff games. The trend continues no matter how far back you go in his career. In fact, over Briere's 108 playoff games career, he's gotten 50 goals and 59 assists. He's over a point-per-game in the playoffs, and that has included when he was with Buffalo (having managed 34 points in 34 playoff games there.) Only once has he ever managed a point per game or more during the regular season, and that was way back in 2007 with Buffalo. Briere's a playoff machine, that is where he shines. He comes to Montreal and is on one of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL, with very little offensive talent, so his regular season numbers took yet another dive. I'm not worried about those. If Briere's pattern holds true, when the playoffs begin, expect Briere to be another dominant force on the ice. How much more dangerous does Montreal become this year if Briere is suddenly just as dangerous a threat to score as Vanek and Pacioretty? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Some folks here tried to argue that Briere is "over the hill" now after the Flyers missed one year of post-season so the argument that Briere is good in the playoffs is null. Flyers fans have been pretty open about Briere's play and what Montreal could expect. He takes a lot of boneheaded penalties and takes forever to get going. But he was always money for them when he counted. Looking back at the Briere signing thread, I said I wasn't a fan because I would have preferred no free agency signings. But his playoff heroics are why he makes the money he does. I wasn't expecting much more than 30 points this season and that was without seeing Therrien decide to barely play him at times. But in the playoffs, if he plays a point per game or close? He's worth his money. It's same as how I looked at Mike Cammalleri. Cammalleri made $6M per season. 50 points in 65 games is not enough production for $6M a season, but when you add 19 points in 19 playoff games? Damn right he was worth $6M per season. 47 in 67? Not good enough. 10 points in 7 playoff games? Now it's worth it. 25-30 points in the regular season? Not enough. But if he's 0.80-1.00 points per game in the playoffs? Worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLassister Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Brière is looking like player who can easily stay focus and keep his cool when Playoffs come. Hope the trend will continue with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sim.on Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I just happy we only signed him for 2 years. I sure wouldend want to be Philly with another 4 years to go with Lecavalier at 4.5 per. So far 33pts, 61gp and -14. Only person worse on the team is MacDonald and that is only cause most of his season was spent on Long Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I just happy we only signed him for 2 years. If I remember correctly, Nashville and another team (New Jersey I think?) offered him three-four year deals. It was either at $4.5M per season or at $4M with Briere making more due to less taxes. He accepted less term and salary in Montreal. Bergevin also didn't sign Lecavalier first because Lecavalier wanted more than two seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illWill Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Briere was brought in for depth and veteran leadership. People expecting the Briere of old are going to be disappointed. It's highly unlikely that he will tear it up during the playoffs but very likely that he will chip in with big goals during any potential run. It was a very savvy signing no matter how tall he is or that he is on the decline of his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Price (no relation) Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 I don't know. Regular-season Briere today looks every bit as good as Regular-season Briere of 2012, he hasn't lost a step. He's not old. 33-36 is pretty much the high point/pinnacle of most players careers. 37 usually starts their decline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illWill Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I don't know. Regular-season Briere today looks every bit as good as Regular-season Briere of 2012, he hasn't lost a step. He's not old. 33-36 is pretty much the high point/pinnacle of most players careers. 37 usually starts their decline. Don't get me wrong, I liked the signing, I'm just pointing out that people have had high expectations of him all season. He isn't the big prized free agent he was when he signed with Philly, and that's why he is only getting 4 mill. I am looking forward to watching him in the post season though and his uppercut celebration when he scores a big goal for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovett's Magnatones Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I wonder what line he's going to be on? You have to think that Plekanec is going to get reunited with Gio for shutdown purposes. I wouldn't be surprised to see Prust slot back into the top 9 as well. Vanek-Desh-Pac Galchenyuk-Plekanec-Gionta Eller-Briere-Gallagher Moen-Prust-White Eller has to be out of the picture at center ice, and Bourque is all done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sim.on Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Bergevin also didn't sign Lecavalier first because Lecavalier wanted more than two seasons. Bergy is a smart man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Bergy is a smart man. Seems that way, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neech Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I wouldn't expect too many playoff heroics out of him if he's getting 8-10 minute a night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I wouldn't expect too many playoff heroics out of him if he's getting 8-10 minute a night. He seems to do just as well with limited minutes. And as soft defensively as he is, spot duty likely safest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stogey24 Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I wouldn't expect too many playoff heroics out of him if he's getting 8-10 minute a night. It would make no difference if he was getting 20min a game. He's not the player he once was. I'll admit he does still have soft hands, but his speed and agility are long gone and that was his bread butter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 It would make no difference if he was getting 20min a game. He's not the player he once was. I'll admit he does still have soft hands, but his speed and agility are long gone and that was his bread butter. I think the agility is still there. In the last few games he's made some super quick decisions with the puck in the offensive zone, even behind the net but the plays just weren't executed all the way through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I guess we'll see. Broken-down veterans are often able to raise their game for the playoffs - even Trevor Linden on his last legs got 7 points in 12 playoff games - so it's wholly possible that Briere will do the same. I do think the idea that he was great at something two years ago shouldn't automatically be assumed to translate into his being great at it now, though. On vera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronthab Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I've read that quite a few players know that hockey is about the playoffs and that their worth is weighted that way. I think an 82 game season is insane.. but don't take away my games... I'm hoping Briere will emerge in the days to come. On espere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathieu Soucy Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Briere will be a great asset in the playoff. He has always performed in the key situation. But even more than that, if you look at what he is bringing lately, he have his share of points and goals, especially for the ice time he have. He is 3rd on the team for goals per 60 minutes played after Pacioretty and Vanek. He doesn't bring as much as we could have expected at first, but still produce regularly for the ice time he have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Briere will be a great asset in the playoff. He has always performed in the key situation. But even more than that, if you look at what he is bringing lately, he have his share of points and goals, especially for the ice time he have. He is 3rd on the team for goals per 60 minutes played after Pacioretty and Vanek. He doesn't bring as much as we could have expected at first, but still produce regularly for the ice time he have. Yes, he seems to do well with limited minutes. A soft expensive 4th line vet. But it is Molson's $, so that should be fairly irrelevant, but he has done well in the past playoffs and I hope you are correct, as Habs (and any team I suppose) could use a bit of balanced scoring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Price (no relation) Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) He's not really fourth line. Moen-Prust-Weiss is fourth line. Briere is for the second powerplay unit and one of our two second lines. Seriously... with Gallagher, Galchenyuk, Plekanec, Briere, Gionta, and Eller, we really can't say which one is the second line and which is the third. They're all decent second-line players. (Patches, Vanek and Desharnais have finally managed to separate themselves from the pack, making them clearly the #1 line). Heck, I still can't figure out where Bournival, Bourque, and White fit in. So much depth... Edited April 6, 2014 by Jeff Price (no relation) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Moan 16.9 shifts/game Briere 16.7 Prust 12:49/game Briere 12:39 whatever you call Briere, he has played 'sheltered' minutes and seems to do fine with limited icetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 SO far so good from Danny. He has been creative every chance he has got. Have a 4th line that can get O zone time is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovett's Magnatones Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 SO far so good from Danny. He has been creative every chance he has got. Have a 4th line that can get O zone time is great. I think that line is as good as the Bruins' third line of Florek-Soderberg-Smith. The Bruins might be a tad overrated. If their top line is cancelled out by Detroit's top line, they only have one line that is any threat to score. Also, their defense is a trash fire. Philly rejects, rookies, Corey Potter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-Love Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 I know it's a good problem to have but where does Galchenyuk fit back in? I'm assuming he replaces Bournival, but teams typically don't like to mess with something that is clicking this good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Price (no relation) Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 Moen's back before Galchenyuk. Like you say ... good problem to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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