Philly Leader

On the latest episode of Flyers Daily with Jason Myrtetus, Flyers General Manager Danny Briere discussed recent team changes, including the addition of Andrei Kuzmenko and Jacob Pelletier, as well as cap flexibility.

Addressing the trade with Calgary, Briere said, “We’ve said it from the get-go: the players were going to decide how far we can push with the players that we had, and the players will decide how we move ahead in the future as well." He acknowledged that moving on from Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost was difficult due to his close ties with them.

Regarding the team's current phase between rebuilding and building, Briere stated, "The flexibility of that deal gives us a chance to kind of peek into the future a little bit... That's still the goal: not just to make the playoffs but become a Stanley Cup contender year after year."

Briere reflected on his past experiences and emphasized the importance of having a belief in becoming a consistent winner. He noted, “The belief in the room is different. It’s the best feeling in the world knowing that you just need to get to the playoffs, and you'll be dangerous.”

Cap flexibility remains a priority for Briere. “That's the exciting part because now we can really focus on having the flexibility that we didn't have earlier," he explained.

Discussing potential center market moves, Briere mentioned exploring both long-term contracts and shorter-term deals depending on player evaluations.

He stressed patience during rebuilding efforts despite competitive instincts within management. “Every single day, every single day, we have to remind ourselves [not to rush the rebuild],” he said.

Kuzmenko's addition brings anticipation. "He's got some explosiveness and he can score goals," Briere commented about evaluating Kuzmenko's fit within Philadelphia.

Pelletier's potential was also highlighted by Briere. "At 23 years old...he's detailed, he works every single shift,” he said about Pelletier's prospects with his new team.

On future salary cap projections, Briere expressed optimism: “It's very exciting... We're clearing and making sure we have some space."

Lastly, Briere acknowledged positive developments among players like Travis Konecny and Noah Cates. "There's a lot of guys that took a step forward for us," he noted regarding their contributions toward building Philadelphia’s future success.