‘In the spring of 2003, the Coyotes dealt him to the Sabres for Chris Gratton, who is the antithesis of Briere, a large man who played smaller. In retrospect, it was a steal, a deal that began to transform the Sabres franchise. Nothing has been quite the same since. Briere justified the trade from the moment he arrived. He became a star in 2003-04, a popular figure on and off the ice, a spokesman, leader and co-captain. “It was a blessing, going to an organization that believes in me and was willing to give me more responsibilities.”‘
Briere plays with the heart of a giant
Source: Buffalo News