Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
How have the Sabres fared with their first-round draft picks over the year? We begin at the beginning: Gilbert Perreault and the 1970s. Look for decade-by-decade wrapups all week.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
The overall No. 1 pick in 1970, Gilbert Perreault broke onto the scene with a 38-goal season that earned him the Calder Cup as rookie of the year. He would post three 40-goal seasons and compile career numbers of 512 goals, 814 assists and 1,326 points en route to the Hockey Hall of Fame. It's hard to believe almost 20 years have passed since he laced 'em up. Perreault retired after the 1986-87 season.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
Rick Martin fell into the Sabres' lap with the No. 5 overall pick and what a gift it proved to be. Rico averaged 40 goals a season his first nine years in the league and totaled 382 goal during a career derailed by injury down the stretch. He netted 52 goals in both the 1973-74 and '74-75 seasons. Martin was dealt to Los Angeles in March of 1981 for the Kings' third-round pick that season and their No. 1 in 1983.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
No. Rene Robert wasn't drafted in the first round by the Sabres. Or anyone else. In fact, he wasn't even drafted. He made his way into the game via the free agent route, became a Sabre through a 1972 trade and went on to score 222 goals for the franchise while rounding out the storied French Connection. How could we pass up an opportunity to include this photograph in the gallery?
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
We return to our regularly scheduled draft programming with the selection of defenseman Jim Schoenfeld at No. 5 overall in 1972. Schoney quickly emerged as a fan favorite while becoming a linchpin of Sabres' defense until he was traded to Detroit in 1981-82. Appeared in two All-Star Games and led the NHL in plus-minus rating in 1979-80, at plus-60.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
Left wing Morris Titanic was selected No. 12 overall in '73 but played just 19 games with the Sabres. He remained in the area as a businessman.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
The Sabres took Lee Fogolin at No. 11 overall in 1974 and he quickly established himself as a no-frils, stay-at-home defenseman. But Edmonton nabbed him in the 1979 expansion draft and he played for two Stanley Cup winners with the Wayne Gretzky-powered Oilers.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
Bob Sauve came to Buffalo with the 17th overall pick in 1975. He teamed with Don Edwards to win the Vezina Trophy for goaltending excellence in 1979-80, when Sauve was 20-8-4 with a league-best 2.36 GAA. Was traded to Detroit in December of 1981 but returned the following season. Career numbers with the Sabres read: 119-76-39 with a 3.21 GAA.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
The Sabres tabbed Ric Seiling with the 14th overall pick in 1977 after having no first-rounder in '76. He emerged as a steady two-way winger, producing six seasons of 19 goals or more before he was dealt to Detroit in 1985-86.Career plus-minus with the Sabres - plus-122.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
They didn't make 'em much more rugged than defenseman Larry Playfair, taken 13th overall by the Sabres in 1978. In two tours of duty in Buffalo totaling 577 games, Playfair total 24 goals, 76 assists and 1,392 penalty minutes.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1970s
Defenseman Mike Ramsey was selected by the Sabres 11th overall in '79 and made his debut with the franchise after helping the U.S. to Olympic gold in 1980. Emerged as an Ironman defenseman who dismissed injuries and twice played all 80 games of a season. Played in 911 career games with Buffalo and made four All-Star Game appearances.
Power is the Sabres’ presumed selection with the first overall pick, but it’s uncertain where he will play this season.