In 1992-93, Daniel Briere's name first came to prominence while playing midget hockey with the Abitibi-Temiscamingue Forestiers of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League where he led his team in scoring at the age of 15. The following season, he joined his hometown Gatineau Intrepide and led the league with 56 goals and 103 points. In 1994-95, Briere joined the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs and once again had his name at the top of the scoring chart, leading his team with 123 points (51-72-123) as a rookie.

In 1995-96, Briere not only led his team in scoring but the QMJHL in scoring with 163 points 67-96-163) while playing in the mid-season CHL Top Prospects Game. Coming off a strong season in 1995-96, Briere was selected 24th overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes. In his final junior season in 1996-97, Briere led his team for the third consecutive year in points with 130 (52-78-130) and ended his junior career with 416 points (170-246-416).

After spending the majority of the 1997-98 season with the Coyotes AHL affiliate in Springfield, Briere made his NHL debut on March 19, 1998 against the Colorado Avalanche and scored his first goal two nights later against the Los Angeles Kings. Despite a mere five games with the Coyotes in 1997-98, Briere was the recipient of the Dudley Garrett Memorial Award in 1997-98 as the AHL's Top Rookie. Following a 92 point-year in 1997-98, Briere was a mainstay with the Coyotes in 1998-99, playing in 64 NHL games and scoring 22 points. Briere went on to split the next two seasons between Phoenix and Springfield before returning to the NHL on a regular basis in 2001-02 and breaking out offensively, scoring 32 goals and adding 28 assists for 60 points.

When the 2002-03 season came around, Briere and the Coyotes were looking to improve on their previous totals and with the signing of free agent Tony Amonte things were looking up. However, with the Coyotes out of the playoff picture and the team looking to cut salary, both Briere and Amonte became available and subsequently Amonte was dealt to Philadelphia and Briere dealt to Buffalo. Upon his arrival with the Sabres, Briere has continued his offensive ways, leading his team in scoring in 2003-04 with 65 points (28-37-65).

In 2006-07, Briere was selected to his first all-star game, and started in the 2007 NHL All-Star Game in Dallas, Texas with Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. He was awarded the game's Most Valuable Player Award after recording a game-high five points. That season Briere Co-Captained the Buffalo Sabres to their first Presidents Trophy in franchise history. In addition, he set a career high in points with 95. However in the playoffs the Sabres would fall short of their ultimate goal, losing out to the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In the summer of 2007, Briere's tenure with the Sabres would come to an end as the speedy forward was signed eight-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.

On the international stage, Briere has helped Canada capture gold at the 1997 World Junior Championships and both the 2003 and 2004 World Championships.