René Robert: A Storied Career in the NHL.
René Paul Robert was a celebrated Canadian professional ice hockey winger, whose impressive 12-season career in the National Hockey League (NHL) spanned from 1970 to 1982. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and Colorado Rockies. Notably, Robert made two All-Star appearances and was named the second NHL All-Star team right wing in 1974–75. He also played a pivotal role in the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals with the Sabres, scoring the game-winning goal in Game 3.
Born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, on December 31, 1948, Robert’s hockey journey began early. As a young player, he participated in the 1961 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with Trois-Rivières. His remarkable performance continued with the Trois-Rivieres Maple Leafs of the Quebec Junior A Hockey League, where he set a record with 69 goals in 49 games during the 1967–68 season. This achievement led to a five-game tryout contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 20, 1968.
Robert made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in the 1970–71 season, playing five games without recording any points. On June 8, 1971, the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed him in the NHL Intra-League Draft. He spent most of the 1971–72 season with the Penguins before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres for Eddie Shack on March 4, 1972. In Buffalo, Robert joined forces with center Gilbert Perreault and left winger Rick Martin to form the legendary forward line known as The French Connection. A statue commemorating this trio was unveiled in 2012 in front of the Sabres’ arena, KeyBank Center.
In his first season with the Sabres, Robert led the team with 40 goals and earned his first NHL All-Star Game selection. The Sabres made an unexpected run to the 1973 Stanley Cup playoffs, with Robert scoring the franchise’s first overtime goal in Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens. His best offensive season came in 1974–75, when he notched 40 goals and 60 assists for 100 points, marking the Sabres’ first 100-point individual season. That year, he was named to the second NHL All-Star team. In the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals, Robert scored the winning goal in the “Fog Game” against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3, although the Flyers ultimately won the series in six games.
Robert continued to excel, leading the league in games played (80) and hat-tricks (3) in the following season. He was traded to the Colorado Rockies on October 5, 1979, for defenseman John Van Boxmeer and was named captain of the Rockies. On January 30, 1981, Robert was traded back to the Maple Leafs, with whom he played his final NHL season in 1981–82. Over his career, he played 744 games, scoring 284 goals and 418 assists for a total of 702 points.
After retiring, Robert served as president of the NHL Alumni Association. He was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 1989 alongside Perreault and Martin. His number 14 was retired by the Sabres on November 15, 1995, alongside Rick Martin’s number 7 jersey, and reunited with Perreault’s number 11, which was retired in 1990. Robert spent his post-hockey years between Western New York and Florida. In a nod to his career, the driveway at his Buffalo home was made from pieces of the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium after its demolition in 2009. Robert suffered a heart attack on June 18, 2021, and was placed on life support. He passed away four days later on June 22 in a hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida, at the age of 72.
René Robert’s legacy in the NHL is marked by his outstanding skill, memorable performances, and his contributions to the teams he played for, particularly the Buffalo Sabres. His story is one of dedication, achievement, and a lasting impact on the world of hockey.