The Philadelphia Flyers have permanently handed over the general manager job to Daniel Briere, in addition to giving the job of president of hockey operations to Keith Jones on Thursday.
Having replaced on an interim basis Chuck Fletcher, fired in March, Brière will have the mandate to revive a team that missed the playoffs this year. Philadelphia finished 14th in the National Hockey League Eastern Conference with 75 points. The Quebecer intends to take advantage of his 17-year experience as a National League player and his managerial background.
“To say this represents a dream come true is an understatement,” he said in a statement. I dedicated my life to hockey and get this opportunity […] in a city that means so much to me is exciting. I cannot describe in words my enthusiasm. I really think it’s an interesting time for the Flyers because of the steps we’ve taken over the past season. Our club has met the standards set on and off the rink, and the process is underway. There’s still a lot of work to do, but the last few months have made me hungrier to rebuild this roster and deliver a Stanley Cup to this city.”
A regular in the team
Brière will therefore have Jones as his immediate superior. He has acted as a television analyst for the past 23 years and has worked on the local network of NBC Sports to follow the movements of the Flyers on the ice. The former striker played 491 career regular season games from 1992 to 2001.
“To be able to restore the winning tradition that everyone knows on this team is an honor for me and I don’t take it lightly,” he said. I see the Flyers as a first class organization in the NHL and professional sports. I’ve seen how this city and these fans can rally behind their club and there’s nothing like it. With the leadership group in place, I have full confidence that we are on the right track and the results will come.”
Returning to Brière, he joined the Flyers hockey operations staff after working five years with the Maine Mariners in the ECHL. He notably occupied the seat of president and governor of this formation.
“He offers a fresh vision and an intense desire to win as CEO. Danny is excited about rebuilding the franchise he knows so well, complimented Flyers Governor Daniel J. Hilferty. After an impressive career as a hockey player, he still understands the sport and the player of today, knowing how to make smart decisions in hockey. Without a doubt, he has proven that he is the right person for this job, given what we want to achieve.”
-In addition, the club has confirmed the return of head coach John Tortorella.