Gilbert Perreault Hall of Fame Career

Lore & Background

Perreault 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 retirement in November 1986. He led the team to 11 consecutive playoff appearances ending with the 1984–85 season. 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.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Memorial Auditorium was thick with anticipation on a cold January night in the mid-70s. Gilbert Perreault stood at center ice, the puck waiting beneath his skates. With a flick of his wrist, he deked through two defenders, the crowd roaring as he threaded a pass to Rick Martin for an empty-netter. In that moment, the Sabres were no longer just an expansion team; they were champions in the making, led by their boy from Quebec.

Reader's Guide

Perreault was a standout junior hockey player who went on to be selected to nine National Hockey League All-Star Games and two post-season NHL All-Star teams (second team centre), while winning the Calder Memorial Trophy and a Lady Byng Trophy, and being selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Known for his ability to stickhandle in close quarters, he is regarded as one of the most skillful playmaking centers of all time.

Did You Know?

• Perreault scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the 1978 NHL All-Star Game at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
• He once totaled seven points in a single game, a Sabres record.
• He recorded the first power play goal and the first hat trick in Sabres history.
• His jersey number 11 is retired by the Sabres.

The Inaugural Draft and Immediate Stardom

Gilbert Perreault's entry into professional hockey is defined by a unique historical coincidence involving the expansion of the National Hockey League. When the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks were established in 1970, they utilized a roulette wheel spin to determine draft order. Coach Punch Imlach strategically selected numbers eight through twelve for Buffalo, hoping to land on his favorite number, eleven. The pointer landed exactly there, granting the Sabres the first overall pick. This selection was particularly significant as it marked the first year Montreal Canadiens lost their priority rights to draft Quebec junior players, making Perreault available. He immediately embraced the number 11, which he had worn throughout his junior career. His impact was instantaneous; he scored in the franchise's very first game against Pittsburgh and led the team in scoring during his rookie campaign. This exceptional debut earned him the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie, cementing his status as an immediate cornerstone for the new organization.

The French Connection and Playoff Success

Perreault is most famously remembered as the central figure of 'The French Connection,' a prolific forward trio that revolutionized Sabres hockey during the mid-1970s. Operating alongside teammates Rick Martin and Rene Robert, Perreault utilized his elite playmaking abilities to drive the team's offensive success. This dynamic unit was instrumental in transforming Buffalo into a legitimate contender, culminating in their run to the 1975 Stanley Cup Final. Throughout his seventeen-season tenure with the franchise, Perreault displayed remarkable consistency and leadership.

Franchise Records and Statistical Dominance

Gilbert Perreault holds every major career franchise record. His offensive prowess included a single-game record of seven points, which still stands today. Additionally, Perreault scored both the first power-play goal and the first hat trick in franchise history. He was selected to nine All-Star Games and named to two NHL All-Star teams as a second-team center. Beyond individual accolades like the Lady Byng Trophy, his consistency ensured that he led the team in scoring nearly every season he played without significant injury absence. This dominance made him not just a star player, but the definitive face of the franchise for over a decade and a half.

Legacy, Recognition, and Hall of Fame

His unique ability to stickhandle in tight spaces earned praise from legends like Bobby Orr, who marveled at his deceptive movements with the puck. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Within Buffalo, his legacy is immortalized as he remains the only player to ever wear number 11, which has since been retired by the organization. His popularity during his playing days was immense, once surpassing football star O.J. Simpson in local polls as the city's favorite athlete. Perreault's journey from a junior standout who won back-to-back Memorial Cups with Montreal Junior Canadiens to an NHL icon represents a career defined by skill, loyalty, and historic achievement.