Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Daniel Briere acknowledged the team needs a multiyear rebuild as he campaigns to earn the job on a permanent basis.
Briere, 45, replaced GM Chuck Fletcher on Friday. Fletcher, who was fired after five seasons, was also the team's president of hockey operations. Briere said he would be honored to fill either job opening but was focused on the general manager's position.
"I don't have a problem with the interim tag. I think [ownership is] going to take the proper time to evaluate who should be full-time in that position. I see myself staying here and being part of the future. I hope they believe in me as well. It feels that way," he said.
Briere played with the Flyers for six seasons during his 17-year NHL career. He was hired as a special assistant to Fletcher last year and was involved in decisions such as the hiring of coach John Tortorella.
Dave Scott, the chairman of Comcast Spectacor and governor of the Flyers, has called the team's path back to Stanley Cup contention "a multiyear process." Briere agreed with that timetable.