Rene Robert, best known as the right wing of the Buffalo Sabres’ “French Connection” line of the 1970s, died Tuesday after he had a heart attack in Florida last week.
In 1974-75, the Sabres’ fifth season in the NHL, Robert helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final, when they lost in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers, who won their second consecutive championship.
The “French Connection” line of Perreault, from Victoriaville, Quebec; Martin, a native of Montreal-district Verdun; and Robert electrified Sabres fans and terrorized the opposition.
A lot of people say, ‘What is it like to play with people like that?’ To be very honest with you, it takes an awful lot of luck.
“I believe everything in life comes to you with a reason and that there’s a meaning to everything that we do, but the fact that I played with , what made us click and what made us so good was pure luck.
Robert was traded to the Rockies by the Sabres for defenseman John Van Boxmeer on Oct.
His most famous goal surely came on home ice May 20, 1975, the Game 3 Stanley Cup Final winner scored at 18:29 of overtime.
When we first took over as owners, the members of the French Connection were three of the first people to welcome us to the organization,” Sabres owner Terry Pegula said in a statement.
Perreault, 70, is the sole surviving member of the “French Connection” line, Martin having died in 2011 at age 59.
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