Sabres `French Connection’ winger Rene Robert dies at 72
He was not on the list.
Rene Robert, a member of the Buffalo Sabres’ famed “French Connection Line,” died Tuesday at a Florida hospital less than a week after suffering a heart attack. He was 72.
The Sabres confirmed Robert’s death in a statement released by the team. Robert had been on life support since being hospitalized in Port Charlotte, Florida, in the middle of last week.
“Rene was a tremendous player, teammate and person and truly loved this organization,” the Sabres said. “His accomplishments on the ice as a member of the French Connection speak for themselves, but his impact in the community continued long past his playing career.”
Acquired by the Sabres in a trade that sent Eddie Shack to Pittsburgh in 1972, Robert went on to round out one of the most productive lines in NHL history. Robert played right wing alongside left wing Rick Martin and Hockey Hall of Fame center Gilbert Perreault on a line that earned its nickname because all three players were from Quebec.
Robert was from Trois-Rivieres, about a 90-minute drive east of Montreal.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula grew up in Pennsylvania, but became a Buffalo fan because of the “French Connection Line.” Upon purchasing the Sabres in February 2011, Pegula became emotional during his inaugural news conference at the sight of Perreault, Robert and Martin among those in attendance.
The trio then joined Pegula on the ice before his first game as owner in what marked one of the last times the linemates were together. Martin died a month later.
“Kim and I were saddened to hear the devastating news,” Pegula said, mentioning his wife, in a statement released by the team.
“During our time with the team, Rene has been one of the most active alumni and we’ve grown to know him well over the past 10 years,” Pegula said. “He was a friend to us and to the entire organization and will be missed dearly.”
The Sabres have memorialized the line by erecting a statue of the three players that stands in a plaza outside their arena. Their numbers also have been retired, and their names hang together from the rafters in the arena.
Robert scored a career-high 40 goals twice during his seven-plus seasons in Buffalo. He was traded to the then-Colorado Rockies in 1979 and closed his career with Toronto in 1981-82.
In 524 games with Buffalo, Robert had 222 goals and 552 points. Overall, he finished with 284 goals and 702 points in 744 NHL games.
He also was known for his playoff production, collecting 22 goals and 39 points in 47 postseason games with the Sabres. Four of his goals were game-winners, including three in overtime.
Robert’s most memorable goal, scored 18:29 into overtime, sealed Buffalo’s 5-4 win over Philadelphia in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in 1975.
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FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2011 file photo, Buffalo Sabres new owner Terry Pegula, second from right, poses with former Sabres players Rene Robert (14), Rick Martin (7) and Gilbert Perreault (11) before an NHL hockey game against the Atlanta Thrashers in Buffalo, N.Y. Rene Robert, a member of the Buffalo Sabres' famed "French Connection Line," died Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at a Florida hospital a few days after suffering a heart attack. He was 72. (AP Photo/David Duprey, File)
Rene Robert, a member of the Buffalo Sabres’ famed “French Connection Line,” died Tuesday at a Florida hospital less than a week after suffering a heart attack. He was 72.
The Sabres confirmed Robert’s death in a statement released by the team. Robert had been on life support since being hospitalized in Port Charlotte, Florida, in the middle of last week.
“Rene was a tremendous player, teammate and person and truly loved this organization,” the Sabres said. “His accomplishments on the ice as a member of the French Connection speak for themselves, but his impact in the community continued long past his playing career.”
Acquired by the Sabres in a trade that sent Eddie Shack to Pittsburgh in 1972, Robert went on to round out one of the most productive lines in NHL history. Robert played right wing alongside left wing Rick Martin and Hockey Hall of Fame center Gilbert Perreault on a line that earned its nickname because all three players were from Quebec.
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Robert was from Trois-Rivieres, about a 90-minute drive east of Montreal.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula grew up in Pennsylvania, but became a Buffalo fan because of the “French Connection Line.” Upon purchasing the Sabres in February 2011, Pegula became emotional during his inaugural news conference at the sight of Perreault, Robert and Martin among those in attendance.
The trio then joined Pegula on the ice before his first game as owner in what marked one of the last times the linemates were together. Martin died a month later.
“Kim and I were saddened to hear the devastating news,” Pegula said, mentioning his wife, in a statement released by the team.
“During our time with the team, Rene has been one of the most active alumni and we’ve grown to know him well over the past 10 years,” Pegula said. “He was a friend to us and to the entire organization and will be missed dearly.”
The Sabres have memorialized the line by erecting a statue of the three players that stands in a plaza outside their arena. Their numbers also have been retired, and their names hang together from the rafters in the arena.
Robert scored a career-high 40 goals twice during his seven-plus seasons in Buffalo. He was traded to the then-Colorado Rockies in 1979 and closed his career with Toronto in 1981-82.
In 524 games with Buffalo, Robert had 222 goals and 552 points. Overall, he finished with 284 goals and 702 points in 744 NHL games.
He also was known for his playoff production, collecting 22 goals and 39 points in 47 postseason games with the Sabres. Four of his goals were game-winners, including three in overtime.
Robert’s most memorable goal, scored 18:29 into overtime, sealed Buffalo’s 5-4 win over Philadelphia in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in 1975.
It finished what became known as “The Fog Game,” with a heavy mist shrouding the ice because of poor air-conditioning at Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium. The Flyers went on to win the series in six games.
Robert maintained a home in Buffalo after he retired and eventually had his driveway built out of pieces of the auditorium after it was demolished in 2009.
He was an avid golfer, and remained active in numerous charitable functions in Buffalo.
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1965–66 Trois-Rivières Leafs QJHL 42 13 38 51 31 5 0 2 2 7
1966–67 Trois-Rivières Leafs QJHL 41 34 32 66 73 11 5 12 17 15
1967–68 Trois-Rivières Leafs QJHL 49 69 74 143 — 4 3 5 8 4
1967–68 Tulsa Oilers CPHL 3 0 2 2 0 2 0 4 4 14
1968–69 Tulsa Oilers CHL 59 21 30 51 57 7 4 3 7 2
1969–70 Vancouver Canucks WHL 5 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
1969–70 Rochester Americans AHL 49 23 40 63 57 — — — — —
1970–71 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 5 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1970–71 Tulsa Oilers CHL 58 26 36 62 85 — — — — —
1970–71 Phoenix Roadrunners WHL 7 4 3 7 6 10 5 3 8 7
1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 49 7 11 18 42 — — — — —
1971–72 Buffalo Sabres NHL 12 6 3 9 2 — — — — —
1972–73 Buffalo Sabres NHL 75 40 43 83 83 6 5 3 8 2
1973–74 Buffalo Sabres NHL 76 21 44 65 71 — — — — —
1974–75 Buffalo Sabres NHL 74 40 60 100 75 16 5 8 13 16
1975–76 Buffalo Sabres NHL 72 35 52 87 53 9 3 2 5 6
1976–77 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 33 40 73 46 6 5 2 7 20
1977–78 Buffalo Sabres NHL 67 25 48 73 25 7 2 0 2 23
1978–79 Buffalo Sabres NHL 68 22 40 62 46 3 2 2 4 4
1979–80 Colorado Rockies NHL 69 28 35 63 79 — — — — —
1980–81 Colorado Rockies NHL 28 8 11 19 30 — — — — —
1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 14 6 7 13 8 3 0 2 2 2
1981–82 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 55 13 24 37 37 — — — — —
NHL totals 744 284 418 702 597 50 22 19 41 73
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