NHL: The Captain Speaks - Daniel Briere Interview

When the Sabres lost Miroslav Satan via free agency, they not only lost one of their top goal scorers they also lost their captain. When asked in the off season which players have "stepped it up" Coach Lindy Ruff looked to his most dependable players of the past few seasons and decided that both Daniel Briere and Chris Drury should share the responsibilities. The experiment has been a success! Briere always dons the "C" when playing in his home town of Montreal while Drury assumes the leadership when he plays in his back yard area of Boston. David Burstyn had a chance to catch up with Briere and asked him about team success, his role as a captain and what it takes in his opinion to succeed in the new NHL.

McKeen's: Is this the best team you have played for thus far in your NHL career?

Daniel Briere: Most definitely! This team has the most depth on any I have ever played for. When you have four lines that are able to play and score like we have it shows our depth and it is reflected in the standings.

McKeen's: What are areas that you believe still need work to go deep into the playoffs?

Daniel Briere: We showed this weekend (8-5 win over Tampa, 6-5 win over Philadelphia) that we need to tighten up a little bit defensively and you always need to pay particular attention to that aspect of the game.

McKeen's: Who has impressed you the most this season and why?

Daniel Briere: There have been many players that have stepped up and made their play valuable to this team. You look at the pairing of Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder especially as they see considerable ice time against the other team's best players night in and night out and have good performances yet their play goes unnoticed.

McKeen's: Many young players have been inserted into this line up and have produced. Why do you think players like Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek have been so successful?

Daniel Briere: Being ready and able to make the jump making the best of their chance. Maybe the fact that last year they all played together with the lockout, they got a chance to grow together and get better as a team. But in my estimation they were NHL ready and made the best of their chance and took it.

McKeen's: Given the new NHL rules what is one aspect or area that a new player coming into the league will need to excel at?

Daniel Briere: There is no doubt that speed is the new NHL. If you can't skate, some of the bigger defenseman have a hard time moving and they are struggling and the same applies to the big wingers that were usually there to chip the puck into the zone and make plays along the boards, it simply isn't good enough any more.

McKeen's: Can you describe what it means to be an NHL captain?

Daniel Briere: It is an honour (smiles); it is a special feeling to be named captain of a team especially a team that has been as successful as this one has here.

McKeen's: Can you site one specific example in which you as a captain have brought this team closer together both on and off the ice?

Daniel Briere: That is something that stays in the room. I am not the type to brag about anything. There have been some incidents but I think that those things stay with us.

McKeen's: When a player seems despondent or has lost confidence how do you motivate him personally?

Daniel Briere: I think we all go through these things. Me, personally I have been through that stuff in the past, where I couldn't really get anything going and have lost my confidence. However it is not just about telling him to work harder and things will turn around. I have been through it and I try to relate from my own personal experiences, this is what happened to me, I have made some mistakes there is a way to turn it around and for the most part I believe I know how.

McKeen's: Are you satisfied with the direction of this organization? What drafted players/prospects do you think can step up fill a role and help this team while you are still here?

Daniel Briere: To be honest with you, it's not really what I have a chance to see in terms of prospects in the minors. But what I see in this dressing room is a lot of players with untapped talent and we are still a fairly young team, one of the youngest in the NHL. I think we have a long time to get better as a team and get better individually, we have a lot of talent and it is still ours to utilize what we have. I think we have the depth and certainly the talent to take it to the next level.