The French Connection

The French Connection was a line of professional ice hockey forwards who played together for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League from 1972 until 1979. The line consisted of Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault at centre and All-Stars Rick Martin and Rene Robert at left wing and right wing, respectively. All three players were French-Canadian; Perreault is from Victoriaville, Quebec, Martin is from Verdun, Quebec, and Robert is from Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The name was related both to the origins of the players and the 1971 hit movie entitled The French Connection.
The trio excelled together, with each being named to the Official NHL All-Star Team at least once and to the National Hockey League All-Star Game at least twice while playing together as a unit for seven full seasons. Perreault and Martin were the Buffalo Sabres' first-round draft picks in the franchise's first two years, and Robert was acquired late in the franchise's second season via a spring 1972 trade. The players were named to several National Hockey League All-Star Game teams and dominated the Buffalo scoring statistical leadership during their years together. They led the Sabres to the franchise's first Stanley Cup Finals appearance and continue to hold many of the franchise's scoring records.
==History==
Perreault was acquired by the team with their first draft pick of their inaugural season in the 1970 Entry Draft. Martin followed the next year as the team's first pick in 1971. Both players were drafted after three seasons with the Montreal Junior Canadiens. Robert was acquired in a trade on March 4, 1972, for Eddie Shack. He played twelve games for the Sabres during the 1971–72 NHL season. Perreault played his entire 17-season career with the Sabres. Martin played all but 4 games of his injury-shortened 11-season career with the Sabres. The trio played together as a line most of the time until the fall of 1979. On October 5, 1979, Scotty Bowman traded Robert to the Colorado Rockies for defenseman John Van Boxmeer. This ended the French Connection era in Buffalo, but not before the trio became the first three players to accumulate 200 goals in a Sabres uniform.1978–79 Buffalo Sabres Media Guide, p. 78. Each player's jerseys were retired; Perreault's #11 was retired during a ceremony on October 17, 1990, and Robert's #14 and Martin's #7 were retired on November 15, 1995.
In hopes of averting the lean years that troubled most expansion teams, George Imlach, the Sabres first coach and General Manager, attempted to build a high-scoring club to excite the local hockey fans.Gilbert, p. 8. Perreault was regarded as a smooth skater and tremendous stickhandler.Brewitt, p. 58. Perreault was chosen to be the franchise player around which a team could be built and succeed. Although Martin and Perreault had played two years together with the Montreal Junior Canadiens (Perreault even lived with Martin's family during the 1969–70 season),Maiorana, p. 29. they had never played on the same line before being paired in Buffalo.Perreault had centered for Rejean Houle and Marc Tardif, while Martin teamed with Bobby Lalonde and Norm Gratton (Maiorana, p.29). Since Martin was one of the few who could keep up with Perreault as a skater they were paired together after the Sabres drafted Martin. It was very clear during the 1971–72 season that Perreault and Martin were a natural pairing. Sabres coach Joe Crozier felt the two just needed a third player who would stay high and check.Brewitt, p. 56. Sabres coach quickly teamed Robert with Perreault and Martin after the trade. The two players complemented Perreault and became a dynamic combination that dazzled fans. They were dubbed the French Connection by writer Lee Coppola as a reference to the Academy Award-winning film and their heritage via the Buffalo Auditorium message board. The pair played together as a regular line through the 1974–75 season. At times, they were split up during the last four seasons.Brewitt, p. 61. When they played together they often faced the opposition's top defensive lineups. Since the trio were tremendous skating scoring threats these opponents would concentrate on checking them and staying on top of them. For example, against the Montreal Canadiens Bob Gainey's line would oppose them. Rick Martin once said about this line "I had Jimmy Roberts between me and my shadow."Brewitt, p. 59.
Perreault was known as a naturally gifted skater and playmaker who was capable of making an end-to-end rush at any time. His fame was hampered by his own shy personality. His stickhandling and head faking confounded even the best defensive players in the world. Podnieks, et al., pp. 536–538. Martin was considered the "marksman" of the three who was dangerous with the wristshot and slapshot. Podnieks, et al., pp. 593–594. Robert was known for his "blinding speed and lethal shot". He made his mark with the French Connection, as one of the league's most highly regarded powerplay point men, and on the second line penalty killing unit. He was perhaps the least flashy of the three, but was the most complete. He was the player who checked and worked hard in the corners. Podnieks, et al., pp. 568–569. 
Perreault holds numerous club career records (including regular season games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals, 30-goal seasons, 20-goal seasons, and shots on goal). However, Martin holds the franchise career records for hat tricks, four-goal games, 40-goal seasons, consecutive 40-goal seasons, 50-goal seasons (tied with Danny Gare) and consecutive 50-goal seasons. Although Robert's name is not as prominent in the record books. his 40-goal and 60-assist 1974–75 NHL season was the club's first 100-point season by an individual. During the seven full seasons the trio was together, Perreault led the Sabres in scoring five times and Robert and Martin led the team once each. Martin led the team three times in goals, Perreault twice and Robert once during this time. Perreault led the team in assists four times and Robert did so twice. In addition, the two tied once for the lead in assists. Martin's 1975–76 season with 7 hat tricks continues to be tied with Alexander Mogilny for the franchise single-season record. Martin and Perreault continue to be first and second for rookie season points and goals in franchise history (records set before the arrival of Robert).
The trio led the Sabres to the Stanley Cup playoffs every full season they were together, except the 1973–74 NHL season when Perreault suffered a broken leg and only played in 55 games. The impact of the combination was obvious as the team began the first full season of the French Connection era with a ten game unbeaten streak; the team made the playoffs for the first time in the history of the franchise and the three members of the French Connection were the teams three leading scorers.Maiorana, p. 61. The team suddenly went unbeaten in their first 21 home games, while setting a record for post 1967 expansion teams by recording a home winning streak of 12 and while going unbeaten in New York state for 25 games including 1 win at the Nassau Coliseum and 3 at the Madison Square Garden.Maiorana, p. 99–102. Their first playoff appearance during their first full season together (1972–3) was not only the franchise's first playoff appearance, but the series also marked history as the first and only National Hockey League Playoff series with brothers (Ken Dryden and Dave Dryden) as opposing goaltenders.Brewitt, p. 44. In the first game of the series, both goaltenders were chosen as being among the three stars of the game. During the 1974–75 NHL season, all members of the trio were selected to play in the National Hockey League All-Star game; they all finished among the top ten in league scoring, and they led the team to a tie for first place in the regular season standings. 
Among their postseason highlights was the May 20, 1975, game three of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals. This game, known as the fog game, was memorable because Buffalo Memorial Auditorium had no air conditioning] and the arena temperature matched the 90 degree outdoor temperature, which caused fog to shroud the ice surface. During the overtime, play was delayed seven times due to fog on the ice surface at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The players were instructed by Flyer coach Fred Shero and Sabre coach Floyd Smith to shoot whenever possible because of the impaired goaltender vision. Eventually, the French connection combined to score a Martin to Perreault to Robert game winning goal. This came after the French Connection swarmed Flyer goalie enabling Bill Hajt to knock in a Rick Martin rebound to send the game to overtime.
The 1975–76 season would also be memorable for the trio and the franchise. On January 4, 1976, the Sabres hosted part of the two-team eight-game NHL tour by the opposing the Soviet Wings. The Sabres handed the Russians the first of only two defeats on the tour. The French Connection contributed 4 goals and 5 assists to a 12-6 victory. The night marked the worst defeat by a Russian hockey team in international competition.Brewitt, pp. 68–72.
The trio was immensely popular in Buffalo, New York, as well as the surrounding Western New York area, and their international popularity and cultural prominence was also evident. They never won a Stanley Cup, but are an important part of hockey history. Rick Martin was the 1977 National Hockey League All-Star Game most valuable player and Perreault scored the game-winning overtime goal in the 1978 NHL All-Star Game at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Perreault was selected to play in nine All-Star games (1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1983–84), Martin was selected to play in seven consecutive All-Star games (1971–72 through 1977–78) and Robert was selected to two All-Star games (1972–73, 1974–75). In addition, Martin was selected as the Official NHL All-Star First Team Left Wing in 1973–74 & 1974–75 and the Official NHL All-Star Second Team Left Wing in 1975–76 & 1976–77. Perreault was selected as the Official NHL All-Star Second Team Center in 1975–76 & 1976–77. Rene Robert was selected as the Official NHL All-Star Second Team Right Wing in 1974–75. Perreault earned the Calder Trophy in 1971 and the Lady Byng Trophy in 1973. All honours for all players were as Buffalo Sabres. All Official NHL All-Star Team selections were earned while the three were teammates. Perreault was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.
==The French Connection years==
===Regular season===
 	Rene Robert	Rene Robert	Rene Robert	Rene Robert	Rene Robert	Rick Martin	Rick Martin	Rick Martin	Rick Martin	Rick Martin	Gilbert Perreault	Gilbert Perreault	Gilbert Perreault	Gilbert Perreault	Gilbert Perreault	
Season 	League 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1972–73	NHL 	75 	40 	43 	83 	83 	75 	37 	36 	73 	79 	78 	28 	60 	88 	10
1973–74	NHL 	76 	21 	44 	65 	71 	78 	52 	34 	86 	38 	55 	18 	33 	51 	10
1974–75	NHL 	74 	40 	60 	100 	75 	68 	52 	43 	95 	72 	68 	39 	57 	96 	36
1975–76	NHL 	72 	35 	52 	87 	53 	80 	49 	37 	86 	67 	80 	44 	69 	113 	36
1976–77	NHL 	80 	33 	40 	73 	46 	66 	36 	29 	65 	58 	80 	39 	56 	95 	30
1977–78	NHL 	67 	25 	48 	73 	25 	65 	28 	35 	63 	16 	79 	41 	48 	89 	20
1978–79	NHL 	68 	22 	40 	62 	46 	73 	32 	21 	53 	35 	79 	27 	58 	85 	20
===Playoffs===
 	Rene Robert	Rene Robert	Rene Robert	Rene Robert	Rene Robert	Rick Martin	Rick Martin	Rick Martin	Rick Martin	Rick Martin	Gilbert Perreault	Gilbert Perreault	Gilbert Perreault	Gilbert Perreault	Gilbert Perreault	
Season 	League 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1972–73	NHL 	6 	5 	3 	8 	2 	6 	3 	2 	5 	12 	6 	3 	7 	10 	2
1973–74	NHL 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1974–75	NHL 	16 	5 	8 	13 	16 	17 	7 	8 	15 	20 	17 	6 	9 	15 	10
1975–76	NHL 	9 	3 	2 	5 	6 	9 	4 	7 	11 	12 	9 	4 	4 	8 	4
1976–77	NHL 	6 	5 	2 	7 	20 	6 	2 	1 	3 	9 	6 	1 	8 	9 	4
1977–78	NHL 	7 	2 	0 	2 	23 	7 	2 	4 	6 	13 	8 	3 	2 	5 	0
1978–79	NHL 	3 	2 	2 	4 	4 	3 	0 	3 	3 	0 	3 	1 	0 	1 	2
==Notes==
==References==
:Brewitt, Ross, 26 Seasons in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium, Taylor Publishing Company, 1996, ISBN 0-87833-125-5.
:Gilbert, John, Buffalo Sabres, Creative Education, 1996, ISBN 0-88682-670-5.
:Maiorana, Sal, Thank You Sabres: Memories of the 1972–73 Season, Quality Sports Publications, 1997, ISBN 1-885758-10-3.
:Podnieks, Andrew, Denis Gibbons, Pavel Barta, Dmitri Ryzkov, Tom Ratschunas, et al., Kings of the Ice: A History of World Hockey, NDE Publishing, 2002, ISBN 1-55321-099-9.
==External links==
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Category:Buffalo Sabres
Category:Famous National Hockey League lines