Cote Carnival Interviews – Part 4 of 4

I wanted to get this up here in the afternoon, but I got wrapped up in some other things. So here it is, my second up close encounter (first in interview form) with Daniel Briere…

So, how’s the off-season going?
It’s been good. Training, getting back in shape, getting back to where I’m supposed to be as a Flyer and looking forward to the upcoming season.

I read the interview on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com that you feel strong. You feel good?
Yeah, I feel good. I’m ready to go. Like I said, I’m excited about the new season and the new players that we signed.

You’re excited to play with the new guys?
Yeah, it’s been a long off-season because we finished so early, but I have a feeling it’s a special season in front of us.

(I asked this question with the hopes of getting his opinion on professional hockey players playing in the Olympics, but to no avail…)
Any thoughts on the Olympic Camps, personally?
Not really, I didn’t expect a call. I knew with the injury and not playing much last year, I didn’t expect a call. I’m not focused on that. For me the focus is on the Flyers and trying to win our way to a Stanley Cup.

Where do you think, from your perspective, you’ll go as far as lines this year? There’s a lot of talk about keeping Claude (Giroux) at center and sending you further up to a wing position. Are you opposed to going to a wing on the top 2 lines?
No, to me it’s all the same. Playing the wing or playing center is the same thing. I really don’t mind it. So many things can happen. There’s always injuries, there’s always chemistry issues, so to me it doesn’t matter where I’m gonna be. I just wanna focus on being ready physically and then the rest will fall into place.

I’ve been asking this sporadically during different interviews. The Pronger contract investigation, do you have an opinion?
No, I mean, it’s not my business. That’s not up to me to make any comments on that.

Okay. Well, Danny, thanks for your time.
No problem, have a good night.

Well, strike two on getting someone to comment on the Pronger contract investigation. Maybe once it’s over or close to being over, someone will tell me how big of a joke they think it is.

I’ve always had a lot of respect for Danny, but this interview made me respect him even more. Not for the fact that he gave me two minutes while being surrounded by his wife, the guys from SKIN PA and Gina Lynn. He’s focused, he’s psyched and he doesn’t care what role he has to play whether it’s a first line wing or third line center. He’ll use the same work ethic on the fourth line as he would on the first.

34 days until the first regular season game…
18 days until the first pre-season game…
9 days until Rookie Camp starts…

Until then, keep your chin up, your eyes on the puck and you can never go wrong with high to the stick side.

Thanks for reading,
Paul Pickett
Facebook: Paul Ca Pickett
Twitter: PaulakaBFTW