From Obscurity to Immortality. How Rene Robert Sparked the NHL's Greatest Line

Rene Robert was the missing ingredient the Buffalo Sabres needed to ignite the NHL’s most colorful and productive line of the 1970 -- the French Connection

But unlike his star-studded linemates (Gil Perreault and Rick Martin), Robert was not a prized #1 draft pick -- in fact, he was essentially a castoff plucked from obscurity by a coach who had once discarded him.

Robert seized on the opportunity with the Sabres and quickly became a legend. He was the first Sabre ever to ever reach the 100 point plateau and he scored some of the most dramatic goals in franchise history.

This is the story of fast-skating, hard-shooting Sabres icon Rene Robert and his unlikely climb to hockey immortality.

With Robert’s career in doubt, the relentless Punch Imlach again entered the scene and acquired Rene in exchange for aging veteran Eddie Shack in what turned out to be one of the most lopsided deals of the decade.

Robert, who had scored just 7 goals in 59 games with the Penguins, scored six goals in 12 games with the Sabres and set the stage for a magical decade-long run in the Queen City.

In the 1972 training camp, Sabres coach Joe Crozier placed Robert with spectacular center Gilbert Perreault and prolific LW Rick Martin on a line dubbed the “French Connection".

Perreault was the star with his penchant for end-to-end rushes, Martin the unrelenting goal scorer. But Robert was the piece that made the trio tick -- a physical do-it-all winger who made his linemates better.

The French Connection was the talk of the NHL

Resources:

The NHL
The Buffalo Sabres

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