I spoke with new Avalanche forward Daniel Briere, who said he was very "excited" about his trade today from Montreal.
The Avalanche sent right wing PA Parenteau and a fifth-round pick in next year's NHL draft to the Canadiens in exchange for Briere, 36, who waived his no-trade clause. He has one year left on his contract with a salary cap hit of $4 million.
Briere had 13 goals and 12 assists in 69 games last season with three goals and four assists in 16 playoff games. He's a four-time 30-goal scorer but hasn't reached that mark since 2010-11 with Philadelphia when he had 34 goals.
“Daniel is a veteran who brings experience to our hockey club. We’re looking forward to him joining our team,… Avalanche executive vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic said in a statement.
Parenteau, 31, was limited to 55 games last year because of knee injuries. He had 14 goals and 19 assists in his second season with the Avalanche after signing a four-year, $16 million contract as a free agent. He had 18 goals and 25 assists in 48 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. Parenteau had one goal and two assists in seven playoff games in April.
Did the Avalanche make the deal because Paul Stastny could leave as a free agent on Tuesday, the first day when teams can sign free agents? Not that Briere can't play on the wing. The Avalanche and Canadiens had discussed a Parenteau deal around the trading deadline but couldn't come to an agreement.
"It's always tough leaving one place and good teammates and stuff, but looking at the big picture, Colorado is a good young, up-and-coming team," the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Briere said in a phone interview. "It's exciting to have a chance to be part of that.
"I had heard rumblings that (a trade) was possible, but I thought if something would happen it would be later in the summer. I got the call this morning to see if I would waive my no-trade, no-movement clause, so it happened really quick and in a sense it's better, it's easier that way. Now I don't have to worry about it all summer long."
Briere was the 24th pick in the 1996 draft by Phoenix (now Arizona) and has 299 goals and 385 assists in 916 regular-season games with the Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers and Canadiens. He has 53 goals and 63 assists in 124 playoff games.
Why did he waive his no-trade clause?
"(The Avalanche is) an up-and-coming team, the chance to play for (coach) Patrick Roy -- those are all very enticing. Feeling wanted, when the team wants you and they need you, those are all things I'm looking forward to. Having a no-trade clause doesn't mean you're not going to be traded in my mind. It just means you maybe have a chance to pick or choose a little bit more your destination. When they told me it was Colorado, I was right away very excited.
"I grew up having Patrick as an idol when he played for Montreal when I was growing up. From what I've been hearing from players who've had the chance to play for him, it's been so positive that I'm really looking forward to it. (Denver) has always been a great place to go and play on the road. I'm looking forward to finding out more about the city."
Briere wasn't happy with the way he played the first half of last season but said he turned his game around in the second half and in the playoffs.
"If I was to evaluate my season, I think the first half of the season wasn't as good probably as it should have been and because of it I lost some responsibility and my role declined on the team," he said. "I thought the second half was much better, playoffs were really good. What I'm looking forward to next year is to come in with the way I played in the second half, especially in the playoffs. My goal is to come in and play the same way that I ended it in the playoffs.
"I'm looking forward to having a little bit more responsibility. As players we're all competitive and we want a little bit more. I'll make my way as best I can with a good up-and-coming team and try and help out with a good veteran presence as well."
Briere said he would have no problem moving from center to the wing if that's how the Avalanche wants to use him.
"I'm good no matter what happens," he said. "I've played center most of my career, so I would say center is probably a little easier. But wherever I'm needed, wherever they want me, I'm good.
"Especially with the way the game is played nowadays, it's not just about one position. Once you're on the ice, you have to read and react. Sometimes centers end up on the wing and wingers end up in the middle and the first guy back in the zone, so you have to be able to play all positions up front. It doesn't really bother me."
For Parenteau, the move to Montreal fulfills a lifelong dream.
"I'm very excited to be coming to Montreal,… he told Montreal reporters in a conference call. "I’m a kid from Boucherville who dreamed of playing for the Canadiens when I was a kid. I consider myself a top-six NHL forward. I’m a good player and I can score and I play with an edge.…