Briere: On the Trading Block?

The title above finishes the old cliche, and applies to the prominent players who have left the Sabres to seek riches in other cities.  It also plays on the word “green” which alludes to money which is why players like Daniel Briere, Jay McKee, Chris Drury and Brian Campbell exited WNY.

I was thinking about this subject when word came out over the weekend about the Flyers looking to deal Briere, to provide cap relief with the recent trade for Chris Pronger.  I wondered if deep down, a guy like Briere regrets leaving Buffalo.  Of course, the money was just too good and the chance to set your family up for life is too strong a pull for all these players.  But Briere left a winning team where he was a star and a leader.  He was well on his way to owning this town and all that comes with that.  He appeared to be comfortable here, his family was settled into the community, and he wasnt’ far from home in Ottawa.  If in fact he was offered a $5 million dollar a year deal, you wonder if Briere ever has any second thoughts.  Do those happen now that it appears he’s fallen out of favor in Philly, and could be traded somewhere beyond his control?

Same factors would be at play for the other prominent players who left Buffalo.  Coincidentally, an article on SI.com by prominent hockey writer Michael Farber list Briere, Drury, McKee and Campbell as marquee free agent disappointments.

I’m the last guy who likes to bring up names from the past and what-ifs?  You can get that other places in town.  But as the big money gets thrown around starting Wednesday, you can’t but think about what might be different if it wasn’t just money that drove these decisions.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.