| Born: | November 13, 1950 | Draft: | 1970, Sabres, 1st Overall |
| Hometown: | Victoriaville, Quebec | Position: | C |
| Known For: | “The French Connection” Line | Shoots: | Left |
| National Team: | Canada |
Gilbert Perreault (born November 13, 1950) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey center who played for 17 seasons with the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres. He was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. Known for his ability to stickhandle in close quarters, he is regarded as one of the most skillful playmaking centers of all time. He was the first draft pick of the Sabres in their inaugural season in the NHL. He is well known as the center man for the prolific trio known as The French Connection. In 2017 Perreault was named one of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ in history.
Perreault was a nine-time NHL All-Star, two-time official NHL All-Star Team (second team centre) selection, a Calder Memorial Trophy winner, a Lady Byng Trophy winner and a Hockey Hall of Famer. He 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.
Gilbert Perreault Statistics
Deeper Dive
- The French Connection: Buffalo Sabres
- Buffalo Sabres’ History With Canada
- Buffalo Sabres With 100-Point Seasons
- Top 5 Buffalo Sabres in Franchise History
- NHL Dream Team
- How NHL Draft Lotteries Have Shaped the Buffalo Sabres Franchise
Achievements
- Calder Memorial Trophy — 1971
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy — 1973
- NHL All-Star Game — 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1984
- NHL Second Team All-Star — 1976, 1977
- Sabres All-Time Leader in Goals (512)
- Sabres All-Time Leader in Assists (814)
- Sabres All-Time Leader in Points (1,326)
- Sabres All-Time Leader in Games Played (1,191)
- Inducted Into Hockey Hall of Fame — 1990
- No. 11 Jersey Retired by Sabres — 1990