The Greatest Hockey Players of All Time: Then vs. Now

Gilbert Perreault was the first draft pick in Buffalo Sabres history and became the centerpiece of the famed “French Connection” line. Known for his dazzling skating and stickhandling, he made the expansion Sabres instantly exciting, carrying the team to its first Stanley Cup Final in 1975.

He was remembered as the heart and soul of Buffalo hockey for two decades, retiring as the franchise’s all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. Perreault’s artistry with the puck and loyalty to one team made him one of the NHL’s most respected and graceful stars of his era.