Daniel Briere let something slip this week about Leo Carlsson, and Flyers fans are certainly going to want to hear it.
Speaking with Andrew Knoll of RG Media, the Flyers GM was asked directly what made Carlsson the guy Philadelphia once targeted.
"I don't know that I'm very comfortable talking about that, just because he's not our player anymore, so I'd rather not go there," Briere said.
He didn't stop there, though.
"But don't forget that he wanted to come to Philly as well. He was excited, he believed in our team, and he's a pretty exciting young player."
That's Briere confirming something Flyers fans have wondered about for a while now. Carlsson wanted in on Philadelphia's rebuild before Anaheim ended up with him instead.
Carlsson instead became a franchise piece for the Ducks, and the numbers back up why Briere still brings him up unprompted years later.
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Daniel Briere reveals how close Flyers came to landing Carlsson
Carlsson posted 67 points last season with Anaheim, 29 goals and 38 assists over 70 games, at just 21 years old.
He also chipped in 2 shorthanded goals and 1 shorthanded assist, the kind of two-way detail that made him such a coveted prospect in the first place.
Anaheim finished last season 43-33-6 for 92 points, 17th overall, with Carlsson as one of the central pieces of that improvement.
Philadelphia finished 43-27-12 for 98 points, 11th overall, proof the Flyers haven't needed Carlsson to build something of their own under Rick Tocchet.
Still, hearing Briere admit Carlsson wanted Philly adds a layer of what-if to a rebuild that's already generating plenty of attention around the league.
Every draft class has one of these stories buried in it somewhere. Most GMs just don't talk about it out loud on the record.
Whether Briere meant to reveal that much or not, it's out there now, and Flyers fans will be thinking about it every time Carlsson lights the lamp against Philadelphia.
Does it sting more knowing Leo Carlsson actually wanted to play for the Flyers?
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