Rene Robert
1948 – 2021
Written by Marleen Wall and Fred Arshoff
All the photos in this article are from Marleen, at the bottom of the article are photos of Rene with the “French Connection” line of the Buffalo Sabres and some videos.
I, Fred, although a very strong supporter of the Montreal Canadiens recall Rene Robert very much and really was happy when the Buffalo Sabres made the “French Connection” line. It was so nice to see, at the time, a hockey team outside of Montreal that would have an all French line. Thanks for doing that Buffalo Sabres, you proved then you are a class act.
Rene Paul Robert was born December 31, 1948 in Trois Rivieres, Quebec. On June 18, 2021 he suffered a severe heart attack and passed away from it June 22, 2021.
As a youth, he played in the 1961 International Peewee Tournament with Trois Rivieres.
In the 1965-66 season Robert played for the Trois Rivieres Leafs and played for them until the conclusion of the 1967-68 season. That team was in the QMJHL (Quebec Major Jr. Hockey league). In the 1967-68 season he set the QMJHL record with 69 goals in only 49 games. That record has since been broken.
Robert was signed as an undrafted player by the Toronto Maple Leafs to a five game try out contract on March 20, 1968. In those five games he registered no points.
On June 8, 1971 Robert was selected in the NHL inter league draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. With the Penguins in 49 games Robert scored 7 goals and added 11 assists for a total of 18 points. He also had 42 penalty minutes.
Robert then moved on to the Buffalo Sabres where he became an integral part of the “French Connection” line.
Robert was a member of the famous “French Connection” line with Center Gilbert Perreault and Left Wing Rick Martin, one of the most feared lines in NHL history. Robert scored 40 goals his first year in Buffalo, in 1972, after arriving via trade for Eddie Shack (See the link at the bottom for the Shack tribute). He helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup final in his third year, while his fourth with the franchise was his best season ever in the NHL. Robert scored 40 goals and notched 100 points. The line ended in 1979 when then Sabres GM Scotty Bowman traded Robert to the Colorado Rockies for defenceman John Van Boxmeer.
In the 1980-81 season Robert was captain of the Colorado Avalanche.
He would end his career after the 1981-82 season, which he spent with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Robert’s 552 points with the Sabres, recorded in just 524 games, rank sixth all time in franchise history. Robert is fifth in franchise history with 330 assists and ninth with 222 goals. In 744 career NHL games with Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Colorado and Toronto, he scored 284 goals and 702 points.
After retiring from professional ice hockey, Robert acted as President of the NHL Alumni Association. He was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame along with Perreault and Martin in 1989. His number 14 was retired by the Sabres on November 15, 1995, along with Rick Martin’s number 7 jersey. They were reunited with Perreault whose number 11 was retired in a 1990 ceremony.
Robert divided his time between Western New York and Florida. The driveway at his home in Buffalo was constructed from pieces of the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium after its demolition in 2009.
In closing, Mr. Robert rest in peace and our deepest condolences to your family, friends and teammates
. Link to the Eddie Shack tribute https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/06/15/clear-the-track-here-comes-shack/?fbclid=IwAR0GRhYoefvy6liCT8urGRmZ5u8pzAZ8ia0ot31Jjb88W3sA-NRsV8dr4-0
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