Veteran center Briere contemplating retirement: report

Center Daniel Briere, one of the more accomplished performers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, remains without a contract and is contemplating retirement in order to spend more time with his three teenage sons, according to a report by ESPN.com.

Briere, an unrestricted free agent who turns 38 on Oct. 6, told writer Scott Burnside on Monday that he remains undecided about his future.

Briere had eight goals and 12 points in 57 regular-season games in a reduced role with the Colorado Avalanche last season. Since signing a free agent contract with the Montreal Canadiens in July 2013 after six seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Briere said he has spent less time with his sons.

He has 307 goals and 696 points in 973 regular-season games spanning 17 seasons. In 124 playoff games, he has 53 goals and 116 points.

Briere said his sons also are torn on whether or not he should retire.

"If I decide to play, I have to commit to full-out training," Briere said. "I'm working out and I'm staying in good shape as of right now. But if I decide to play, I've got about two months left to really take it to the next level to be ready for next season."

Briere did say that if he decided to play another season, he would like to stay in the northeast to be closer to his family. His sons live in New Jersey.

"You come to a point where you have to think about your life, their life, and who you're affecting with your decisions," Briere said. "As hockey players, you do something your whole life, and the decisions you have to make get tougher and tougher."

Briere, selected in the first round (No. 24) by the Arizona Coyotes in the 1996 NHL Draft, has played for five NHL teams.

He signed his contract with the Flyers in the summer of 2007 and had at least 25 goals in three of his six seasons, helping them reach the Eastern Conference Final twice and get to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010, when he had a League-high 30 points in 23 playoff games. His 12 points against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final were one point shy of Wayne Gretzky's record of 13. He had 72 points in 68 playoff games in Philadelphia.

The Flyers used a buyout on the final two years of Briere's eight-year, $52 million contract in June 2013 to save $6.5 million against the salary cap in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. The Canadiens signed Briere to a two-year contract before trading him to the Avalanche in June 2014.