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'''Gilbert Perreault''' (born [[November 13]], [[1950]], in [[Victoriaville, Quebec|Victoriaville]], [[Quebec]]) is a retired [[Canadian people|Canadian]] professional [[ice hockey]] [[Centre (ice hockey)|center]] who played for seventeen seasons with the [[Buffalo Sabres]] of the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]. Blessed with an uncanny ability to stickhandle in close quarters, he was regarded as one of the most gifted and skillful playmaking centers ever to play the game.<ref name=LoHGP>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p199003&type=Player&page=bio&list=#photo|accessdate=2007-07-24|date=2007|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum |work=legendsofhockey.net|title=The Legends:Gilbert Perreault}}</ref> He is the original Buffalo Sabre because he was drafted first by the team in their inaugural season in the NHL.<ref name=TBSAA>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabresalumni.com/2001/perreault.php3|accessdate=2007-07-24|title=The French Connection - Gilbert Perreault|publisher=The Buffalo Sabre's Alumni Association}}</ref> He is well known as the centerman for the prolific trio of Sabres forwards known as ''[[The French Connection (hockey)|The French Connection]]''.
'''Gilbert Perreault''' (born [[November 13]], [[1950]], in [[Victoriaville, Quebec|Victoriaville]], [[Quebec]]) is a retired [[Canadian people|Canadian]] professional [[ice hockey]] [[Centre (ice hockey)|center]] who played for seventeen seasons with the [[Buffalo Sabres]] of the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]. Blessed with an uncanny ability to stickhandle in close quarters, he was regarded as one of the most gifted and skillful playmaking centers ever to play the game.<ref name=LoHGP>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p199003&type=Player&page=bio&list=#photo|accessdate=2007-07-24|date=2007|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum |work=legendsofhockey.net|title=The Legends:Gilbert Perreault}}</ref> He is the original Buffalo Sabre because he was drafted first by the team in their inaugural season in the NHL.<ref name=TBSAA>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabresalumni.com/2001/perreault.php3|accessdate=2007-07-24|title=The French Connection - Gilbert Perreault|publisher=The Buffalo Sabre's Alumni Association}}</ref> He is well known as the centerman for the prolific trio of Sabres forwards known as ''[[The French Connection (hockey)|The French Connection]]''.


Perreault was a standout [[Junior hockey]] player who went on to become a nine time [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL ALL-Star]], two time Official [[NHL All-Star Team]] (second team center) selection, a [[Calder Trophy]] winner, a [[Lady Byng Trophy]] winner and a [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]r. He played his entire 17 year career with the Buffalo Sabres and continues to be the all-time franchise leader in career regular season games played, [[Goal (ice hockey)|goals]], [[Assist (ice hockey)|assists]], [[Point (ice hockey)|points]], game-winning goals, and [[Shot on goal|shots on goal]], serving as the team's captain from 1981 until his initial retirement in November 1986.<ref name=TBSAA/> He led the team to eleven consecutive playoff appearances ending with the 1984-85 season.<ref name=TP/>
Perreault was a standout [[Junior hockey]] player who went on to become a nine time [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL ALL-Star]], two time Official [[NHL All-Star Team]] (second team center) selection, a [[Calder Trophy]] winner, a [[Lady Byng Trophy]] winner and a [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]r.<ref name=His/> He played his entire 17 year career with the Buffalo Sabres and continues to be the all-time franchise leader in career regular season games played, [[Goal (ice hockey)|goals]], [[Assist (ice hockey)|assists]], [[Point (ice hockey)|points]], game-winning goals, and [[Shot on goal|shots on goal]], serving as the team's captain from 1981 until his initial retirement in November 1986.<ref name=TBSAA/> He led the team to eleven consecutive playoff appearances ending with the 1984-85 season.<ref name=TP/>


Over the course of his 17 season career he accumulated 512 goals and 814 assists in 1191 games. Among his career highlights was the game winning goal in overtime of the 1978 [[National Hockey League All-Star Game]] played at the [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]]. Perreault once totaled seven points in a single game which remains a Sabres record. He also recorded the first power play goal and the first hat trick in the team's history. He is the only Buffalo Sabre to wear number 11, with the number being retired in his honor.<ref name=TBSAA/>
Over the course of his 17 season career he accumulated 512 goals and 814 assists in 1191 games.<ref name=IHD/> Among his career highlights was the game winning goal in overtime of the 1978 [[National Hockey League All-Star Game]] played at the [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]]. Perreault once totaled seven points in a single game which remains a Sabres record. He also recorded the first power play goal and the first hat trick in the team's history. He is the only Buffalo Sabre to wear number 11, with the number being retired in his honor.<ref name=TBSAA/>


==Playing career==
==Playing career==
===Amateur career===
===Amateur career===
Perreault began playing organized hockey at about age six.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/> He preferred [[street hockey]] to playing on the ice and did not skate until he was eight.<ref name=HNT100>Dryden, p. 123.</ref> At age nine, he made his first appearance at [[Minor hockey|Peewee hockey]] tournament in [[Quebec City]]. He left home at the age of 16 to join his first Junior hockey team.<ref name=LoHOoOGP>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononep199003.htm|accessdate=2007-07-24|date=2007|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum |work=legendsofhockey.net|title=One on One with Gilbert Perreault}}</ref> His first year (1966-67) of junior hockey was spent with [[Thetford Mines]] in the [[Quebec Junior A League]]. His teammates included [[Rick Kehoe]] and [[Marc Tardif]]. The team won the league championships. He then joined the [[Montreal Junior Canadiens]] after the Quebec Junior A League shut down for the 1967-68 season, which was his first of 3 years with the Junior Canadiens.
Perreault began playing organized hockey at about age six.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/> He preferred [[street hockey]] to playing on the ice and did not skate until he was eight.<ref name=HNT100>Dryden, p. 123.</ref> At age nine, he made his first appearance at [[Minor hockey|Peewee hockey]] tournament in [[Quebec City]]. He left home at the age of 16 to join his first Junior hockey team.<ref name=LoHOoOGP>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononep199003.htm|accessdate=2007-07-24|date=2007|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum |work=legendsofhockey.net|title=One on One with Gilbert Perreault}}</ref> His first year (1966-67) of junior hockey was spent with [[Thetford Mines]] in the [[Quebec Junior A League]]. His teammates included [[Rick Kehoe]] and [[Marc Tardif]]. The team won the league championships. He then joined the [[Montreal Junior Canadiens]] after the Quebec Junior A League shut down for the 1967-68 season, which was his first of 3 years with the Junior Canadiens.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/>


His 49 points in 47 games helped the Junior Canadiens to a second place finish during his first season with the team. During his second year on the team that included future NHL talents [[Rejean Houle]] and [[Andre Dupont]] as well as future professional teammates [[Jocelyn Guevremont]] and [[Rick Martin|Richard Martin]], Perreault blossomed. His 97 points were second on the team to Houle's 108 points, and they earned him OHA First All-Star Team honours. As Perreault blossomed, the team excelled. In his second season, the team finished first the OHA and won the 1969 [[Memorial Cup]]. It was the first Memorial Cup win for Montreal since 1969.
His 49 points in 47 games helped the Junior Canadiens to a second place finish during his first season with the team. During his second year on the team that included future NHL talents [[Rejean Houle]] and [[Andre Dupont]] as well as future professional teammates [[Jocelyn Guevremont]] and [[Rick Martin|Richard Martin]], Perreault blossomed. His 97 points were second on the team to Houle's 108 points, and they earned him OHA First All-Star Team honours. As Perreault blossomed, the team excelled. In his second season, the team finished first the OHA and won the 1969 [[Memorial Cup]]. It was the first Memorial Cup win for Montreal since 1969.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/>


After Houle moved on to become the NHL's first overall pick, Perreault assumed the leadership role and compiled a 51 goal, 70 assist season, which led the team in both categories and second in the league to [[Marcel Dionne]]'s 132 points. The Canadiens defeated the [[Weyburn Red Wings]] to become the third junior team to successfully defend their championship.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/>
After Houle moved on to become the NHL's first overall pick, Perreault assumed the leadership role and compiled a 51 goal, 70 assist season, which led the team in both categories and second in the league to [[Marcel Dionne]]'s 132 points. The Canadiens defeated the [[Weyburn Red Wings]] to become the third junior team to successfully defend their championship.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/>


In [[1969]] and [[1970]], Perreault was on the [[Memorial Cup]]-winning Montreal Junior Canadiens, which provoked a change in Memorial Cup eligibility rules. Previously, all Junior Clubs in Canada were eligible for the cup, but the Junior Canadiens beat a club from [[Prince Edward Island]] so badly in the playoffs that Junior A was split into Major Junior and Junior A, with only the Major Junior clubs eligible for the trophy. The Junior Canadiens were so powerful that they beat the [[Soviet national ice hockey team]], 9-3 in an exhibition game in 1970. After leading the Junior Canadiens to their second championship, he was named [[Ontario Hockey League|Ontario Hockey Association]] [[most valuable player]].
In [[1969]] and [[1970]], Perreault was on the [[Memorial Cup]]-winning Montreal Junior Canadiens, which provoked a change in Memorial Cup eligibility rules. Previously, all Junior Clubs in Canada were eligible for the cup, but the Junior Canadiens beat a club from [[Prince Edward Island]] so badly in the playoffs that Junior A was split into Major Junior and Junior A, with only the Major Junior clubs eligible for the trophy. The Junior Canadiens were so powerful that they beat the [[Soviet national ice hockey team]], 9-3 in an exhibition game in 1970. After leading the Junior Canadiens to their second championship, he was named [[Ontario Hockey League|Ontario Hockey Association]] [[most valuable player]].<ref name=LoHGP/>


===Professional career===
===Professional career===
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Because the Sabres were an [[expansion team]] in 1970, the broadcast crew was also inexperienced, and famously the television broadcast cut away one night as Perreault picked up the puck behind the net. They had incorrectly assumed that the whistle would blow for an icing infraction, only to have [[Ted Darling]], the team's broadcaster, screaming into the microphone as they returned from the commercial describing Perreault's brilliant end to end rush and goal that the viewers had missed.
Because the Sabres were an [[expansion team]] in 1970, the broadcast crew was also inexperienced, and famously the television broadcast cut away one night as Perreault picked up the puck behind the net. They had incorrectly assumed that the whistle would blow for an icing infraction, only to have [[Ted Darling]], the team's broadcaster, screaming into the microphone as they returned from the commercial describing Perreault's brilliant end to end rush and goal that the viewers had missed.


Perreault, wearing number #11 in honour of the roulette wheel's choice, became an immediate star. His immediate impact included a goal in the franchise's very first game, which was a 2-1 victory on [[October 10]] [[1970]] against the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]].<ref name=TP>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/buffalo/sabres.html|accessdate=2007-07-24|title=Buffalo Sabres|publisher=Tank Productions|date=2007-05-10}}</ref> During his first season, he led the Sabres in scoring (with 38 goals and added 34 assists) &mdash; a feat he would never fail to accomplish in any season in which he did not miss significant time to injury before his penultimate year &mdash; and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
Perreault, wearing number #11 in honour of the roulette wheel's choice, became an immediate star. His immediate impact included a goal in the franchise's very first game, which was a 2-1 victory on [[October 10]] [[1970]] against the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]].<ref name=TP>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/buffalo/sabres.html|accessdate=2007-07-24|title=Buffalo Sabres|publisher=Tank Productions|date=2007-05-10}}</ref> During his first season, he led the Sabres in scoring (with 38 goals and added 34 assists)<ref name=His/> &mdash; a feat he would never fail to accomplish in any season in which he did not miss significant time to injury before his penultimate year &mdash; and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.<ref name=LoHGP/>


Perreault developed a reputation as a superb stickhandler.<ref name=HNT100/> He scored a goal on his first shift in a professional scrimmage.<ref>Bailey, p. 12.</ref> Bobby Orr once said about Perreault: "His head and shoulders go one way, his legs go the other way, and the puck is doing something else. When I first saw it I couldn't believe it."<ref>McKinley, p. 180.</ref> His popularity and respect surpassed that of [[O.J. Simpson]] in a poll of Buffalonians about the best Buffalo athlete.<ref name=HNT100/> [[Phil Esposito]] once said if anyone was to break his 76 goal, 152 point season records "It will be Gilbert Perreault."<ref name=HNT100/>
Perreault developed a reputation as a superb stickhandler.<ref name=HNT100/> He scored a goal on his first shift in a professional scrimmage.<ref>Bailey, p. 12.</ref> Bobby Orr once said about Perreault: "His head and shoulders go one way, his legs go the other way, and the puck is doing something else. When I first saw it I couldn't believe it."<ref>McKinley, p. 180.</ref> His popularity and respect surpassed that of [[O.J. Simpson]] in a poll of Buffalonians about the best Buffalo athlete.<ref name=HNT100/> [[Phil Esposito]] once said if anyone was to break his 76 goal, 152 point season records "It will be Gilbert Perreault."<ref name=HNT100/>


Before the 1971-72 season the Sabres drafted Perreault's Junior Canadiens teammate, Rick Martin, with their first pick. The two gelled as a tandem with each scoring 74 points.<ref name=TP/> Late in the season the Sabres traded [[Eddie Shack]] for [[Rene Robert]]. The trio formed one of the [[decade]]s most memorable and exciting [[line (ice hockey)|lines]], known as "[[The French Connection (hockey)|The French Connection]]" with [[Rene Robert]] on right wing and [[Rick Martin]] on left wing. They ended the following 1972-73 season sweeping the top three scoring positions for the team and leading the franchise to its first playoff appearance with Perreault winning the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player. In 1973-74, Perrault endured a broken leg that limited him to 55 games.
Before the 1971-72 season the Sabres drafted Perreault's Junior Canadiens teammate, Rick Martin, with their first pick.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/> The two gelled as a tandem with each scoring 74 points.<ref name=TP/> Late in the season the Sabres traded [[Eddie Shack]] for [[Rene Robert]].<ref name=TP/> The trio formed one of the [[decade]]s most memorable and exciting [[line (ice hockey)|lines]], known as "[[The French Connection (hockey)|The French Connection]]" with [[Rene Robert]] on right wing and [[Rick Martin]] on left wing. They ended the following 1972-73 season sweeping the top three scoring positions for the team and leading the franchise to its first playoff appearance with Perreault winning the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/> In 1973-74, Perrault endured a broken leg that limited him to 55 games.<ref name=LoHGP/>


The 1974-75 season was memorable for the Sabres' [[Stanley Cup Playoffs]] [[Stanley Cup Finals]] appearance.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/> The Sabres finished first in the newly reformatted leagues [[Adams Division]], and the French Connection members each finished in the top ten in league scoring. The Sabres defeated the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] and [[Montreal Canadiens]] on their way to a Finals appearance against the [[Philadelphia Flyers]].<ref name=TP/> The Sabres lost the series four games to two. Although Perreault would be named to NHL Second All-Star Team in both 1976 and 1977, 1975 was the closest that Perreault would come to winning the Stanley Cup.
The 1974-75 season was memorable for the Sabres' [[Stanley Cup Playoffs]] [[Stanley Cup Finals]] appearance.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/> The Sabres finished first in the newly reformatted leagues [[Adams Division]], and the French Connection members each finished in the top ten in league scoring. The Sabres defeated the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] and [[Montreal Canadiens]] on their way to a Finals appearance against the [[Philadelphia Flyers]].<ref name=TP/> The Sabres lost the series four games to two. Although Perreault would be named to NHL Second All-Star Team in both 1976 and 1977, 1975 was the closest that Perreault would come to winning the Stanley Cup.
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==Retirement==
==Retirement==


Perreault retired at the end of the 1986 season. Thereafter, pension changes came into effect significantly boosting the pensions of retired players who played at least twenty games in the [[1986-87 NHL season|1987]] season. He duly came out of retirement, and still played effectively, scoring 9 goals in the first 14 games.<ref name=TP/> He retired for good on [[November 24]] [[1986]] after his twentieth game.<ref name=TP/> His number 11 was retired by the Sabres in 1990, which was the same year Perreault was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Perreault had been chosen to nine the All-Star teams in (1970-71, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1976-77, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1983-84).
Perreault retired at the end of the 1986 season. Thereafter, pension changes came into effect significantly boosting the pensions of retired players who played at least twenty games in the [[1986-87 NHL season|1987]] season. He duly came out of retirement, and still played effectively, scoring 9 goals in the first 14 games.<ref name=TP/> He retired for good on [[November 24]] [[1986]] after his twentieth game.<ref name=TP/> His number 11 was retired by the Sabres in 1990, which was the same year Perreault was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.<ref name=LoHOoOGP/> Perreault had been chosen to nine the All-Star teams in (1970-71, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1976-77, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1983-84).<ref name=His>{{cite web|url=http://downloads.sabres.nhl.com/other/history.pdf|title=History|accessdate=2007-07-24|date=2006|publisher=Buffalo Sabres and the National Hockey League}}</ref>


He finished his career with scoring totals of 512 goals and 814 assists for 1326 points in 1191 games. At the time of his retirement, Perreault was the sixth leading scorer in NHL history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.
He finished his career with scoring totals of 512 goals and 814 assists for 1326 points in 1191 games.<ref name=IHD/> At the time of his retirement, Perreault was the sixth leading scorer in NHL history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.


Since his retirement from hockey, Perreault has remained active in the game, coaching Junior teams in the [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]]. In addition, he also plays on occasion with the [[Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team]] for charity events.
Since his retirement from hockey, Perreault has remained active in the game, coaching Junior teams in the [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]]. In addition, he also plays on occasion with the [[Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team]] for charity events.
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Revision as of 20:43, 28 August 2007

Gilbert Perreault
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1990
Born (1950-11-13) November 13, 1950 (age 73)
Victoriaville, PQ, CAN[1]
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Played for Montreal Junior Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres
NHL draft 1st overall, 1970
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 1970–1987

Gilbert Perreault (born November 13, 1950, in Victoriaville, Quebec) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey center who played for seventeen seasons with the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. Blessed with an uncanny ability to stickhandle in close quarters, he was regarded as one of the most gifted and skillful playmaking centers ever to play the game.[2] He is the original Buffalo Sabre because he was drafted first by the team in their inaugural season in the NHL.[3] He is well known as the centerman for the prolific trio of Sabres forwards known as The French Connection.

Perreault was a standout Junior hockey player who went on to become a nine time NHL ALL-Star, two time Official NHL All-Star Team (second team center) selection, a Calder Trophy winner, a Lady Byng Trophy winner and a Hockey Hall of Famer.[4] He played his entire 17 year career with the Buffalo Sabres and continues to be the all-time franchise leader in career regular season games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals, and shots on goal, serving as the team's captain from 1981 until his initial retirement in November 1986.[3] He led the team to eleven consecutive playoff appearances ending with the 1984-85 season.[5]

Over the course of his 17 season career he accumulated 512 goals and 814 assists in 1191 games.[1] Among his career highlights was the game winning goal in overtime of the 1978 National Hockey League All-Star Game played at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Perreault once totaled seven points in a single game which remains a Sabres record. He also recorded the first power play goal and the first hat trick in the team's history. He is the only Buffalo Sabre to wear number 11, with the number being retired in his honor.[3]

Playing career

Amateur career

Perreault began playing organized hockey at about age six.[6] He preferred street hockey to playing on the ice and did not skate until he was eight.[7] At age nine, he made his first appearance at Peewee hockey tournament in Quebec City. He left home at the age of 16 to join his first Junior hockey team.[6] His first year (1966-67) of junior hockey was spent with Thetford Mines in the Quebec Junior A League. His teammates included Rick Kehoe and Marc Tardif. The team won the league championships. He then joined the Montreal Junior Canadiens after the Quebec Junior A League shut down for the 1967-68 season, which was his first of 3 years with the Junior Canadiens.[6]

His 49 points in 47 games helped the Junior Canadiens to a second place finish during his first season with the team. During his second year on the team that included future NHL talents Rejean Houle and Andre Dupont as well as future professional teammates Jocelyn Guevremont and Richard Martin, Perreault blossomed. His 97 points were second on the team to Houle's 108 points, and they earned him OHA First All-Star Team honours. As Perreault blossomed, the team excelled. In his second season, the team finished first the OHA and won the 1969 Memorial Cup. It was the first Memorial Cup win for Montreal since 1969.[6]

After Houle moved on to become the NHL's first overall pick, Perreault assumed the leadership role and compiled a 51 goal, 70 assist season, which led the team in both categories and second in the league to Marcel Dionne's 132 points. The Canadiens defeated the Weyburn Red Wings to become the third junior team to successfully defend their championship.[6]

In 1969 and 1970, Perreault was on the Memorial Cup-winning Montreal Junior Canadiens, which provoked a change in Memorial Cup eligibility rules. Previously, all Junior Clubs in Canada were eligible for the cup, but the Junior Canadiens beat a club from Prince Edward Island so badly in the playoffs that Junior A was split into Major Junior and Junior A, with only the Major Junior clubs eligible for the trophy. The Junior Canadiens were so powerful that they beat the Soviet national ice hockey team, 9-3 in an exhibition game in 1970. After leading the Junior Canadiens to their second championship, he was named Ontario Hockey Association most valuable player.[2]

Professional career

In 1970, two new franchises were awarded in the NHL — the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks. Sabres General Manager Punch Imlach chose his favorite number, number eleven, for the roulette wheel spin to determine which franchise would have the first choice in the 1970 Entry Draft.[6] Buffalo, by the luck of the draw chosen by a roulette wheel, in which the number "11" came up for the Sabres, won the right to the first choice in the amateur draft. This was the first year that the Montreal Canadiens did not have a priority right to draft Quebecois junior players. Consequently, Perreault was available and taken first overall by the Sabres.

Because the Sabres were an expansion team in 1970, the broadcast crew was also inexperienced, and famously the television broadcast cut away one night as Perreault picked up the puck behind the net. They had incorrectly assumed that the whistle would blow for an icing infraction, only to have Ted Darling, the team's broadcaster, screaming into the microphone as they returned from the commercial describing Perreault's brilliant end to end rush and goal that the viewers had missed.

Perreault, wearing number #11 in honour of the roulette wheel's choice, became an immediate star. His immediate impact included a goal in the franchise's very first game, which was a 2-1 victory on October 10 1970 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.[5] During his first season, he led the Sabres in scoring (with 38 goals and added 34 assists)[4] — a feat he would never fail to accomplish in any season in which he did not miss significant time to injury before his penultimate year — and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.[2]

Perreault developed a reputation as a superb stickhandler.[7] He scored a goal on his first shift in a professional scrimmage.[8] Bobby Orr once said about Perreault: "His head and shoulders go one way, his legs go the other way, and the puck is doing something else. When I first saw it I couldn't believe it."[9] His popularity and respect surpassed that of O.J. Simpson in a poll of Buffalonians about the best Buffalo athlete.[7] Phil Esposito once said if anyone was to break his 76 goal, 152 point season records "It will be Gilbert Perreault."[7]

Before the 1971-72 season the Sabres drafted Perreault's Junior Canadiens teammate, Rick Martin, with their first pick.[6] The two gelled as a tandem with each scoring 74 points.[5] Late in the season the Sabres traded Eddie Shack for Rene Robert.[5] The trio formed one of the decades most memorable and exciting lines, known as "The French Connection" with Rene Robert on right wing and Rick Martin on left wing. They ended the following 1972-73 season sweeping the top three scoring positions for the team and leading the franchise to its first playoff appearance with Perreault winning the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player.[6] In 1973-74, Perrault endured a broken leg that limited him to 55 games.[2]

The 1974-75 season was memorable for the Sabres' Stanley Cup Playoffs Stanley Cup Finals appearance.[6] The Sabres finished first in the newly reformatted leagues Adams Division, and the French Connection members each finished in the top ten in league scoring. The Sabres defeated the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens on their way to a Finals appearance against the Philadelphia Flyers.[5] The Sabres lost the series four games to two. Although Perreault would be named to NHL Second All-Star Team in both 1976 and 1977, 1975 was the closest that Perreault would come to winning the Stanley Cup.

He was named to the Canadian national team ("Team Canada") that participated in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union but managed to contribute two goals in two games and left the team before the series ended.[6] In 1976, Canada hosted the first Canada Cup series and boasted what many believe is the greatest Canadian team ever assembled. Perreault played with future Hockey Hall of Fame members such as Bobby Orr, Darryl Sittler, Bobby Hull, Guy Lafleur and Marcel Dionne. Perreault often played on a line with fellow Québecois Lafleur and Dionne. Canada won the series after beating Czechoslovakia in a best two out of three. He later played in the 1981 Canada Cup on a line with Wayne Gretzky and Lafleur. He was playing some of the best hockey of his career, leading all scorers with nine points in four games, when he was forced out of the tournament with a broken ankle. Canada lost the final to the USSR 8-1.

Retirement

Perreault retired at the end of the 1986 season. Thereafter, pension changes came into effect significantly boosting the pensions of retired players who played at least twenty games in the 1987 season. He duly came out of retirement, and still played effectively, scoring 9 goals in the first 14 games.[5] He retired for good on November 24 1986 after his twentieth game.[5] His number 11 was retired by the Sabres in 1990, which was the same year Perreault was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.[6] Perreault had been chosen to nine the All-Star teams in (1970-71, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1976-77, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1983-84).[4]

He finished his career with scoring totals of 512 goals and 814 assists for 1326 points in 1191 games.[1] At the time of his retirement, Perreault was the sixth leading scorer in NHL history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.

Since his retirement from hockey, Perreault has remained active in the game, coaching Junior teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In addition, he also plays on occasion with the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team for charity events.

Career achievements and facts

  • Tied with Marc Bergevin for 69th for most games played with 1191.
  • Number one all-time leading goal scorer for the Buffalo Sabres.
  • Currently 30th in all-time goals scored.
  • Currently 23rd in all-time assists scored.
  • Currently 26th in all-time points scored.
  • Won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1970.
  • Won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1973.
  • Named an NHL Second Team All-Star in 1976 and 1977.
  • In 1998, he was ranked number 47 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Gilbert Perreault". The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Legends:Gilbert Perreault". legendsofhockey.net. Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  3. ^ a b c "The French Connection - Gilbert Perreault". The Buffalo Sabre's Alumni Association. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  4. ^ a b c "History" (PDF). Buffalo Sabres and the National Hockey League. 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Buffalo Sabres". Tank Productions. 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "One on One with Gilbert Perreault". legendsofhockey.net. Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  7. ^ a b c d Dryden, p. 123.
  8. ^ Bailey, p. 12.
  9. ^ McKinley, p. 180.

References

  • Bailey, Budd, Celebrate the Tradition: 1970-1990, Boncraft Inc., 1989
  • Dryden, Steve, The Top 100 NHL Players of All Time, Transcontinental Sports Publications, 1997, ISBN 0-7710-4175-6.
  • McKinley, Michael, Hockey Hall of Fame Legends: The Official Book, Triumph Books, 1993, ISBN 1-57243-093-1.

External link

Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1967-68 Montreal Jr. Canadiens OHA 47 15 34 49 10 11 8 9 17 5
1968-69 Montreal Jr. Canadiens OHA 54 37 60 97 29 14 5 10 15 10
1969-70 Montreal Jr. Canadiens OHA 54 51 71 121 26 16 17 21 38 4
1970-71 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 38 34 72 19 -- -- -- -- --
1971-72 Buffalo Sabres NHL 76 26 48 74 24 -- -- -- -- --
1972-73 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 28 60 88 10 6 3 7 10 2
1973-74 Buffalo Sabres NHL 55 18 33 51 10 -- -- -- -- --
1974-75 Buffalo Sabres NHL 68 37 59 96 36 17 6 9 15 10
1975-76 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 44 69 113 36 9 4 4 8 4
1976-77 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 39 56 95 30 6 1 8 9 4
1977-78 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 41 48 89 20 8 3 2 5 0
1978-79 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 27 58 85 20 3 1 0 1 2
1979-80 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 40 66 106 57 14 10 11 21 8
1980-81 Buffalo Sabres NHL 56 20 39 59 56 8 2 10 12 2
1981-82 Buffalo Sabres NHL 62 31 42 73 40 4 0 7 7 0
1982-83 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 30 46 76 34 10 0 7 7 8
1983-84 Buffalo Sabres NHL 73 31 59 90 32 -- -- -- -- --
1984-85 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 30 53 83 42 5 3 5 8 4
1985-86 Buffalo Sabres NHL 72 21 39 60 28 -- -- -- -- --
1986-87 Buffalo Sabres NHL 20 9 7 16 6 -- -- -- -- --
OHA Totals 155 103 165 268 65 41 30 40 70 19
NHL Totals 1191 512 814 1326 500 90 33 70 103 44


Preceded by
?
 All-Time NHL Rookie Season goal record
1970-71 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NHL First Overall Draft Pick
1970 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Buffalo Sabres captains
1981-86 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Calder Trophy
1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Lady Byng Trophy
1973 		Succeeded by

Template:NHL FirstOverallDraftPicks Template:SabresFirstPick

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