[1] According to the Penguins' general manager Jack Riley, during the contract negotiations with Brière prior to the 1969–70 season "He asked for a bigger bonus and said, 'It's not really that much extra money, because I'll be playing for the Penguins for the next 20 years..."[2][3] On November 1, 1969, Brière scored his first NHL goal against the Minnesota North Stars' goaltender Ken Broderick.

[4] While Brière helped lead the Penguins to the second round of the NHL playoffs, the team finished two victories short of the Stanley Cup Finals, by losing to the St. Louis Blues in the semifinals.

Despite being named the Penguins' rookie of the year, Brière received no votes for the Calder Memorial Trophy, which was won by the Chicago Black Hawks' goaltender Tony Esposito.

Brière drew comparisons to Phil Esposito and Bobby Clarke, both of whom were later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

[6] While his companions suffered relatively minor injuries, Brière, the driver, was ejected from his orange 1970 Mercury Cougar along Route 117 near Val-d'Or, 70 miles from his hometown of Malartic.

[8] Suffering from major head trauma, Brière was flown 300 miles to Notre Dame Hospital in Montreal, where a leading neurosurgeon performed the first of four brain surgeries.

[9] A framed jersey hung with his photo in the Igloo Club, located inside the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, as the only visible sign that the number was retired.

[10] The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League renamed its MVP award the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy in 1972.