Parenteau, Pick Head East for Briere

On the eve of NHL free agency, Montreal and Colorado conducted business today when they exchanged forwards Daniel Briere and P.A. Parenteau.

The French-Canadian duo with $4 million salary cap hits each experienced an up-and-down season last year with their former clubs but are looking for new challenges switching conferences. Montreal is also getting a fifth round pick in 2015

Briere is in the final year of a two-year $8 million contract he signed with Montreal after being bought out by Philadelphia last summer. He didn’t live up to expectation as he was a healthy scratch frequently and scored just 13 goals and 25 points in 69 games. His 13 minutes of ice time a night isn’t what you’d like to see from someone carrying a $4 million salary cap hit.

Parenteau heads back to his home province, where he was born in Hull and played in the QMJHL for Moncton, Chicoutimi, and Sherbrooke. In the exchange, Montreal receives a younger player (31 compared to 36 for Briere) and gain an additional year on the contract. With 55 games Colorado last season, he scored 14 goals and 19 assists. His offensive totals were significantly off compared to the shortened 2013 season, with the exception of a +14 improvement in plus-minus. The change of scenery could help considering he scored 53 and 67 points the two seasons before when he played in the East for New York Islanders.

It’s safe to say that Parenteau is the better player of the two. But with Paul Stasny looking like he’s leaving Denver, did Colorado really have to sacrifice a draft pick as well? Av’s fans can only hope that Briere can be somewhat productive for them in a depth role next season. According to TSN, the Avalanche will keep Briere in the lineup going forward and not using their buyout clause on him.

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