The Buffalo Sabres and their fans, as well as the entire hockey world, are shocked today to find out a true Sabres legend has passed away.
Tragically, Rick Martin, of the storied French Connection line, died at age 59 after he suffered a heart attack while driving.
Martin will be most remembered by fans for being a winger on the French Connection line along with Rene Robert and Gilbert Perreualt. Martin donned Buffalo blue and gold for ten years, amassing 382 goals and 313 assists in regular-season play.
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Drafted fifth overall in the 1971 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Rick Martin amassed 382 goals in 10 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres.
His rookie season, Martin tallied 44 goals and 30 assists. And that was only just the beginning.
Martin, of course, was a part of one of, if not the best, lines in hockey to ever be assembled: the French Connection. The year prior to Martin’s drafting, Gilbert Perreault was drafted in the team’s inaugural season. In March 4, 1972, the line was assembled, with the Buffalo Sabres acquiring Rene Robert.
Their first season together, they tallied 95 goals and 199 assists. Just as Martin’s rookie season, this was the start of an epic seven seasons together, where the trio became the first in Sabres history to tally over 200 goals.
Rick Martin was the scoring player of the three. Sure, the others scored, but Martin’s shot was pinpoint, with Martin amassing two seasons with over 50 goals and a 49 goal season. During the time at which the French Connection was assembled, they missed the playoffs just once, in 1973-1974.
The year after, the trio would play in the Stanley Cup, losing in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Martin’s accomplishments weren’t just on the ice. When he retired from hockey in 1982 with the Los Angeles Kings (only playing four games outside a Buffalo sweater), he moved back to Buffalo, New York. His number, along with the rest of the French Connection’s, was retired and now hangs in HSBC Arena.
He was a staple within the community, and for a short time, served as a coach with the Sabres. He could often be found in Clarence Center, New York, and was a figure who was liked by anyone he met. Even as a hockey legend, Martin was always a down to earth kind of guy and would sit and enjoy a time at the bar with anyone.
Today, the NHL lost a brother, a legend. The Buffalo Sabres lost one of their most prolific players, and the community of Western New York will never be the same. Rick Martin’s legacy will be one not forgotten by any hockey fan of the Buffalo Sabres. I was unfortunate to never see him play, but everything I have seen and heard of and from Martin himself indicated he truly was the great man he presented himself as.
Most likely, especially with new owner Terry Pegula, the Sabres will honor Martin tonight when they host the Ottawa Senators.
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When new Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula officially took over the team from businessman Tom Golisano last month, he immediately made his intentions clear.
“From this point forward, the Buffalo Sabres’ reason for existence will be to win the Stanley Cup,” said the billionaire and lifelong Sabres fan.
For hockey fans around North America, this statement was nothing more than the new guy in town trying to make a name for himself. For Sabres players and fans, however, the message sent chills down their spines.
Golisano had saved the franchise from a possible move out of Buffalo after the downfall of the Regis family, but his focus was on making money, not winning hockey games. He had no problem admitting that. In his first remarks as owner, Pegula said that there were no longer any financial restraints on the front office.
Since Pegula took over the reigns, the Sabres are 7-2-2 and have vaulted into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Pegula has attended every game since the $189 million purchase, despite the fact the Sabres just concluded a franchise-long, seven-game road trip in which they went 4-2-1.
One reason for the recent hot streak was Pegula’s green-lighting a trade for Brad Boyes from the St. Louis Blues in an effort to add another scorer into a grinder-saturated lineup. Boyes has provided an immediate boost by scoring six points in seven games, including a game-winning overtime goal against Boston on Tuesday.
Pegula hired former Pittsburgh Penguins vice president Ted Black to become team president. Both have repeatedly said that winning the Stanley Cup is never one big thing, but rather many little things with some lucky bounces along the way.
One such little thing was installing a $20,000 carpet with the Sabres logo in the locker room while the team was on the road trip. Starting on March 19, Pegula and company are adding a pregame show for all games.
Pegula said his timetable for bringing Lord Stanley’s Cup to Buffalo is three years, and although the odds are on the Sabres side to make the playoffs this season, it would take more than a few lucky bounces for them to win it all.
Looking forward to the offseason, however, the Sabres will clear nearly $7 million in cap space with Tim Connolly, Rob Niedermayer and Mike Grier set to become free agents and unlikely to be re-signed.
A sizable chunk of that $7 million will be spent to re-sign restricted free agent Drew Stafford, but there will still be enough space left under the salary cap for one or two impact signings.
With one of the deepest free agent classes since the lockout set to hit the market this summer, Pegula is set up to make a big splash.
Selling the city of Buffalo to a big name player like Brad Richards will be tough though, considering the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs are also rumored to be readying big contracts for the play-making center.
That is why Pegula and Black are focusing their efforts on making Buffalo a place players want to play, and why they will continue to implement those “little things” they keep talking about.
The honeymoon period is still in full force, but Sabres fans will tell you that having Pegula running their franchise is anything but little.
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Late last night the Buffalo Sabres acquired Brad Boyes from the St. Louis Blues for a second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
This should be a telling sign regarding the future of Tim Connolly. Connolly is in the final year of his contract and is making $4.5 million and likely won’t be resigned.
Boyes is signed through next season so he is more than just a rental player. Boyes can play both the wing and the center position so it appears he may be Connolly’s replacement.
Factor in the emergence of Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Ennis and it makes all too much sense to deal Connolly.
With so many teams still in contention it is definitely a sellers market. If the Sabres are fortunate enough they may be able to get a second round pick back for Connolly.
Even if the Sabres get a minimal return for Connolly, it will at least free up significant cap space and allow the Sabres to make another deal if they wish.
Darcy Regier has gone on record saying that he is making acquisitions with a long term perspective in mind. Trading Connolly would appear to fit into this plan seeing how his future probably won’t be in Buffalo.
One team has already called Regier about Connolly but they were shut down. Regier was reported as saying he has no intention of trading Connolly.
The players you get inquiries on are the players that will be unrestricted next year,” Regier said Saturday. “A number of those players have moved, but again our focus is more on buying than it is on selling given where we are in the standings. We want to add to this team as opposed to lessen our chances.”
At the very least, the Sabres should discuss a contract extension with Connolly. If a deal can’t be reached now then one probably won’t occur in the offseason thus giving the Sabres even more reason to deal him.
Tim Connolly only has 26 points and is a minus-11. Making a change would be the best scenario for both the Buffalo Sabres and Tim Connolly.
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So, apparently Sabres’ General Manager Darcy Regier does know how to work a phone when his hands aren’t handcuffed behind his back. That is exactly what Regier has proven as the Sabres have acquired Brad Boyes from the St. Louis Blues for a second round pick in the 2011 entry draft.
Regier said that he was looking to add some scoring punch, but that he would not be going after any rental players. Boyes has one year left on his contract.
A former first round pick and 40-goal scorer, Brad Boyes adds much needed right wing depth to the Buffalo Sabres, who currently sit two points out of the eighth spot in the eastern conference.
Since his 43-goal campaign, Boyes has tailed off the last two seasons. However, over the last 20 games, the skilled forward has started to heat up.
Giving up a second round pick makes this deal a steal for the Buffalo Sabres and they will be hoping that a change of scenery will result in more pucks being put into the net by Brad Boyes.
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In an unlikely deal announced late in the day, the Buffalo Sabres are sending their second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to the St. Louis Blues. In exchange, they receive sniper Brad Boyes in an attempt to add some offense, as they continue their push to make the top eight and claim a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The move comes as St. Louis, which has been one of the most active teams in the league in the weeks heading up to tomorrow’s trade deadline, had recently acquired power forward (and right winger) Chris Stewart from the Colorado Avalanche. They would have to consider either moving Boyes to another team or reconsidering his position as a top-six forward with the Blues.
Stewart has six goals in his first six games with the Blues, making Boyes expendable. The former first round draft pick and 40-goal scorer will look to regain his scoring touch with Buffalo, which has experienced trouble this season producing offense since the season-ending injury of top line center Derek Roy.
Despite the offensive contributions of players such as Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford, the Sabres will most likely look to Boyes to jump-start their offense and help put them over the edge and into the playoffs this spring.
For the Blues, despite being only seven points out of the playoffs, this move is yet another in what appears to be the beginnings of a rebuild. They’ve already shipped away their former captain Eric Brewer to Tampa Bay and their former first overall pick Erik Johnson to the Avalanche as they continue to stockpile younger players and draft picks for a chance at future success.
The move comes off a 1-0 loss tonight at Calgary that saw the Blues shut out by Flames net minder Miikka Kiprusoff.
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Trade deadline day is always an interesting one to say the least. This one especially for Buffalo Sabres fans. For years now, we have seen very little to nothing done as the day comes and goes.
Players of recent deadline moves who have been brought in by Darcy Regier include: Raffi Torres, Steve Bernier, Dominic Moore, and Dainius Zubrus. Not exactly the kind of players that set your team over the top for a strong playoff push.
But this year just seems different. Regier has had the financial restraints cut loose, and has said any move they make will be for a player to stick around long term…as in longer than 20 games.
If Regier is serious about making a statement to the fans and new owner Terry Pegula, there are several options out there for him to consider.
J.M. Liles from the Colorado Avalanche is a good option. A strong defenseman with some offensive awareness. His salary is roughly $4.25 million per year, with one year left on his contract. Liles would bolster a defense that could use a bit more fire power from the point without sacrificing defense.
A giant splash would be trying to land center Brad Richards from the Dallas Stars. Though the asking price from the Stars seems to be very steep, Richards is the type of center Buffalo has needed for about five seasons. Richards would be an investment in the teams future. He is the type of player who would make a winger like Thomas Vanek flourish, and become the 40 goal player they have hoped for.
Another idea could be Atlanta Thrasher young blueliner Zach Bogosian. It has been rumored Bogosian said he will not be in Atlanta next season, and he and the coaches have had a difference in opinions this season. While he has struggled in his third year, Bogosian is the type of player that a team can guarantee a future with. He has captain capabilities. Something Buffalo has lacked for seasons.
A bit less money with a few more years in age is the option of a player like Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Ron Hainsey. Hainsey is a veteran presence and has some offensive skill. He skates well, and can lug the puck up the ice. His contract is rather high, but its something Regier and the Sabres could handle under their salary cap.
Coming back to the forwards; a speedy high scoring winger like Ales Hemsky could also suit the Sabres needs for lack of fire power. The Edmonton Oilers are not going to let Hemsky go for free though. Regier would have to be creative in his trade proposal with the Oilers to land him. Hensky has speed and a nose for the net. Something the Sabres are in desperate need of.
But the simple fact is, Regier has to make a move. A bold move. A decisive move, which shows the fans of Buffalo just how serious he is as the general manager of a new Buffalo Sabres regime.
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The long-anticipated day is here for Buffalo Sabres fans. Terry Pegula will become the fifth owner of the franchise.
And not a minute too soon for the Sabres’ faithful.
As fans reminisce about how former owner Tom Gallasino saved this team from its demise, they can also look forward to what the future may hold under new ownership.
For all intents and purposes, it will be the last season in the front office for people like general manager Darcy Regier and managing partner Larry Quinn.
Over the last three seasons, fans have watched the exodus of quality players from the team, while very little was ever brought back to replace them in terms of talent.
The days of tremendously overpaying their own players with huge contracts and handcuffing the team financially may finally be over.
It’s no secret that Regier and Quinn have tapped this team of most of its young talent playing in the minor leagues and have not had any scoring depth for years now.
Most of this falls back on the cost-cutting measures under which Quinn and Regierwere were forced to work.
No longer having actual scouts and leaving the scouting duties up to video scouting was a horrible if not fatal blow to the franchise.
I am not saying players like Zack Kassian and Marcus Foligno may not become quality players in the NHL someday, but the system was flawed.
Looking over the draft picks they have had since 2005, one could easily assume the video scouting has been a costly mistake made by this franchise.
All of this may change under the new guidance of Pegula.
Rumor has it that Pegula is a very smart business man with a love for the game of hockey. Some of his latest comments regarding how “we are going to win the Stanley Cup” are still being replayed throughout Buffalo.
Fans can assume he will not accept mediocrity as the norm for his team—as it has been the last three years—or front office personnel that collect huge salaries despite their inept abilities to run the team.
There is no doubt Pegula is going to have to do some serious rebuilding of every facet of owning a hockey team.
From players to coaching staff to front office, changes will be made. That said, I like the chances of a guy who is a hockey fan as well as a good business man and a proven winner at everything he has ever done in his professional life.
So Buffalo Sabres fans, I assure you that Tuesday, February 22, 2011 will be a day you will not soon forget.
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While many other teams in the National Hockey League have been causing quite a stir today via trades, the Buffalo Sabres have made some noise of their own.
The sale of the Buffalo Sabres to the deep-pocketed Terry Pegula has been officially approved by the NHL Board of Governors.
If the idea of the Sabres jumping into the top eight wasn’t enough to excite the HSBC crowd, then this news will certainly charge up the joint.
For about a month now, Sabres fans have been having daily conversations about who is going to stay and who will be fired once Mr. Pegula takes over.
There is a general sense that Terry Pegula, who is a huge Buffalo Sabres fan, will be very aggressive at the trade deadline which is just over a week away, but only time will tell on that matter.
However, I will leave you with one quote from Mr. Pegula: “We’re going to win the Stanley Cup, and then you know what, we’re going to win it again.”
And that my friends is enough for me.
Enjoy the game.
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The NHL has about 25 games left on the schedule for each team and coming up on the playoff push there will be some teams that are overlooked. Some of these teams have been coasting along all season under the radar and could prove to be deadly come playoff time. Here are some of the most underrated teams in the game.
