1970–71 Buffalo Sabres season

NHL hockey team season (inaugural season)

1970–71 Buffalo Sabres

Division| 5th East
1970–71 record| 24–39–15
Home record| 16–13–10
Road record| 8–26–5
Goals for| 217
Goals against| 291
Team information
General manager| Punch Imlach
Coach| Punch Imlach
Captain| Floyd Smith
Arena| Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Average attendance| 9,721
Team leaders
Goals| Gilbert Perreault (38)
Assists| Phil Goyette (46)
Points| Gilbert Perreault (72)
Penalty minutes| Tracy Pratt (179)
Wins| Joe Daley (12)
Goals against average| Dave Dryden (3.37)

1971–72 ->

The 1970–1971 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 1st season in the National Hockey League.

The Sabres had the first pick in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, which they used to select Gilbert Perreault. Led by Perreault's NHL rookie record of 38 goals,[1] the Sabres would 24–39–15, ahead of the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Division. However, they finished 19 points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs in the division, and finished 19 points short of a playoff berth.

The Sabres played their home games in the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. "The Aud" was previously home of the Buffalo Bisons AHL team. To make way for the Sabres the Bisons folded following the 1969–70 AHL season, which saw the Bisons win their fifth and final Calder Cup. For the Sabres first season played the Aud had an ice hockey seating capacity of only 12,280 for hockey. The arena would be renovated following the season to expand capacity.[2]

## Offseason[edit]

The Buffalo Sabres, along with the Vancouver Canucks, joined the NHL in the 1970–71 season. The Sabres' first owners were Seymour and Northrup Knox, scions of a family long prominent in western New York. The team's name, selected through a fan contest,[3] was chosen because it was known as a weapon carried by leaders, and it is also swift and strong on offense as well as defense. The Knoxes had tried twice before to get an NHL team, first when the NHL expanded in 1967, and then unsuccessfully attempting to buy the Oakland Seals with the intent of moving them to Buffalo. At the time of their creation, the Buffalo Sabres exercised their option to create their own AHL farm team, the Cincinnati Swords. On June 9, 1970, the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft was held to fill the Sabres' and Canucks' rosters.

### NHL draft[edit]

In 1970, two new franchises were awarded in the NHL — the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks. Sabres general manager/coach Punch Imlach chose his favorite number, number 11, for the roulette wheel spin to determine which franchise would have the first choice in the 1970 Entry Draft.[4] Ultimately, the Canucks were allocated numbers 1–10 on the wheel, while the Sabres had 11–20. When league president Clarence Campbell spun the wheel, he initially thought the pointer landed on 1. However, while Campbell was congratulating the Vancouver delegation, Imlach asked Campbell to check again. As it turned out, the pointer was on 11.[5] This was the first year that the Montreal Canadiens did not have a priority right to draft Québécois junior players. Consequently, Perreault was available and taken first overall by the Sabres.[6]

See also: 1970 NHL Amateur Draft

Round  | #  | Player  | Nationality  | College/Junior/Club team

|
|
|
|

1  | 1  | Gilbert Perreault |  Canada | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)
2  | 15  | Butch Deadmarsh |  Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
3  | 29  | Steve Cuddie |  Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
4  | 43  | Randy Wyrozub |  Canada | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
5  | 57  | Mike Morton  |  Canada | Shawinigan Bruins (QMJHL)
6  | 71  | Mike Keeler |  Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA)
7  | 84  | Tim Regan |  United States | Boston University (ECAC)
8  | 97  | Doug Rombough |  Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
9  | 107  | Luc Nadeau  |  Canada | Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL)

## Transactions[edit]

Date |

Details

|

October 1, 1969  | To St. Louis Blues

* * *

Roger Lafreniere | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Cash
December 9, 1969  | To St. Louis Blues

* * *

George Morrison | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Cash
June 10, 1970  | To New York Rangers

* * *

Cash  | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Ted Hodgson
June 10, 1970  | To Detroit Red Wings

* * *

Tom Webster | Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Roger Crozier
August 31, 1970  | To Toronto Maple Leafs

* * *

Cash  | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Floyd Smith
Brent Imlach
October 1, 1970  | To St. Louis Blues

* * *

Gary Edwards on loan  | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Cash
October 1, 1970  | To California Golden Seals

* * *

Howie Menard | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Cash
October 2, 1970  | To St. Louis Blues

* * *

Craig Cameron | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Ron Anderson
October 9, 1970  | To Pittsburgh Penguins

* * *

Cash  | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Dave Dryden
October 19, 1970  | To St. Louis Blues

* * *

Bill Sutherland | Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Cash
November 4, 1970  | To St. Louis Blues

* * *

Bob Baun | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Larry Keenan
Jean-Guy Talbot
November 24, 1970  | To Los Angeles Kings

* * *

Mike McMahon Jr.
7th-round pick in 1971 (Pete Harasym)
8th-round pick in 1971 (Lorne Stamler)  | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Dick Duff
Eddie Shack
January 24, 1971  | To Pittsburgh Penguins

* * *

Jean-Guy Lagace | To Buffalo Sabres

* * *

Terry Ball

### Free Agency[edit]

September 1970  | Signed

* * *

Murray Kuntz

|

### Claimed via Waivers[edit]

| Player | Former team | Date claimed off waivers

|
|

Steve Atkinson | St. Louis Blues | November 1, 1970
Bob Baun | Detroit Red Wings | November 3, 1970
Paul Andrea | California Golden Seals | November 1970

### Lost via Waivers[edit]

| Player | New team | Date claimed off waivers

|
|

Cliff Schmautz | Philadelphia Flyers | December 28, 1970

### 1970 NHL Intraleague Draft[edit]

| Round  | #  | Player  | Nationality  | Drafted From

|
|
|
|

2  | 18  | Kevin O'Shea |  Canada | San Diego Gulls (WHL)
2  | 19  | Cliff Schmautz |  Canada | Portland Buckaroos (WHL)
2  | 20  | Brian McDonald |  Canada | Denver Spurs (WHL)

## Regular season[edit]

### Punch Imlach[edit]

After being fired by the Leafs, it was expected that Imlach would join the NHL's new Vancouver franchise. Imlach, Joe Crozier, and Foster Hewitt had become partners in the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League and were in line to become owners of the Vancouver NHL team. But they didn't have the financial resources to buy the team, which went to Medical Investment Corporation (Medicor). Medicor bought the WHL Canucks for $2.8 million, with Imlach making a reported gain of more than $250,000. He was offered a job with the NHL Canucks, but instead accepted an offer from the NHL's other expansion team, the Buffalo Sabres, as their first coach and general manager in 1970.

### Season standings[edit]

East Division[7]

* v
* t
* e

|  | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 57 | 14 | 7 | 399 | 207 | +192 | 121
2 | New York Rangers | 78 | 49 | 18 | 11 | 259 | 177 | +82 | 109
3 | Montreal Canadiens | 78 | 42 | 23 | 13 | 291 | 216 | +75 | 97
4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 37 | 33 | 8 | 248 | 211 | +37 | 82
5 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 24 | 39 | 15 | 217 | 291 | −74 | 63
6 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 24 | 46 | 8 | 229 | 296 | −67 | 56
7 | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 22 | 45 | 11 | 209 | 308 | −99 | 55

## Schedule and results[edit]

Regular season results

No.  | R  | Date  | Score  | Opponent  | Record
1 | W | October 10, 1970 | 2–1 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 1–0–0
2 | L | October 14, 1970 | 0–3 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 1–1–0
3 | L | October 15, 1970 | 0–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 1–2–0
4 | L | October 17, 1970 | 1–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 1–3–0
5 | T | October 18, 1970 | 1–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 1–3–1
6 | L | October 22, 1970 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 1–4–1
7 | W | October 23, 1970 | 4–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 2–4–1
8 | L | October 25, 1970 | 0–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 2–5–1
9 | L | October 27, 1970 | 2–7 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 2–6–1
10 | L | October 30, 1970 | 1–6 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 2–7–1
11 | L | November 1, 1970 | 2–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 2–8–1
12 | L | November 5, 1970 | 1–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 2–9–1
13 | L | November 7, 1970 | 2–11 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 2–10–1
14 | L | November 8, 1970 | 1–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 2–11–1
15 | W | November 13, 1970 | 4–2 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 3–11–1
16 | T | November 15, 1970 | 2–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 3–11–2
17 | W | November 18, 1970 | 7–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 4–11–2
18 | L | November 21, 1970 | 0–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 4–12–2
19 | T | November 25, 1970 | 4–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 4–12–3
20 | T | November 26, 1970 | 2–2 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 4–12–4
21 | L | November 29, 1970 | 1–2 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 4–13–4
22 | T | December 3, 1970 | 4–4 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 4–13–5
23 | W | December 6, 1970 | 1–0 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 5–13–5
24 | L | December 9, 1970 | 1–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 5–14–5
25 | L | December 10, 1970 | 2–8 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 5–15–5
26 | L | December 12, 1970 | 3–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 5–16–5
27 | L | December 13, 1970 | 0–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 5–17–5
28 | L | December 16, 1970 | 0–4 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 5–18–5
29 | W | December 17, 1970 | 4–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 6–18–5
30 | L | December 19, 1970 | 0–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 6–19–5
31 | L | December 20, 1970 | 2–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 6–20–5
32 | L | December 22, 1970 | 2–7 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 6–21–5
33 | T | December 26, 1970 | 4–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 6–21–6
34 | W | December 27, 1970 | 5–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 7–21–6
35 | L | January 1, 1971 | 4–9 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 7–22–6
36 | L | January 3, 1971 | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 7–23–6
37 | W | January 7, 1971 | 7–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 8–23–6
38 | L | January 9, 1971 | 2–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 8–24–6
39 | T | January 10, 1971 | 2–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 8–24–7
40 | L | January 13, 1971 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 8–25–7
41 | W | January 14, 1971 | 2–1 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 9–25–7
42 | W | January 16, 1971 | 4–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 10–25–7
43 | T | January 17, 1971 | 4–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 10–25–8
44 | T | January 21, 1971 | 5–5 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 10–25–9
45 | L | January 23, 1971 | 1–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 10–26–9
46 | W | January 24, 1971 | 6–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 11–26–9
47 | T | January 27, 1971 | 3–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 11–26–10
48 | W | January 29, 1971 | 4–2 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 12–26–10
49 | W | January 31, 1971 | 6–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 13–26–10
50 | W | February 4, 1971 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 14–26–10
51 | L | February 6, 1971 | 3–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 14–27–10
52 | L | February 7, 1971 | 3–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 14–28–10
53 | L | February 9, 1971 | 3–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 14–29–10
54 | L | February 10, 1971 | 1–5 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 14–30–10
55 | W | February 12, 1971 | 3–0 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 15–30–10
56 | W | February 14, 1971 | 3–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 16–30–10
57 | L | February 17, 1971 | 1–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 16–31–10
58 | T | February 18, 1971 | 6–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 16–31–11
59 | L | February 20, 1971 | 5–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) | 16–32–11
60 | L | February 21, 1971 | 1–3 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 16–33–11
61 | L | February 23, 1971 | 3–6 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 16–34–11
62 | L | February 25, 1971 | 2–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 16–35–11
63 | L | February 27, 1971 | 0–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 16–36–11
64 | W | February 28, 1971 | 5–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 17–36–11
65 | T | March 3, 1971 | 3–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 17–36–12
66 | T | March 5, 1971 | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 17–36–13
67 | W | March 7, 1971 | 6–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 18–36–13
68 | L | March 13, 1971 | 0–9 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 18–37–13
69 | W | March 14, 1971 | 5–0 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 19–37–13
70 | W | March 18, 1971 | 5–3 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 20–37–13
71 | L | March 20, 1971 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 20–38–13
72 | W | March 21, 1971 | 7–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 21–38–13
73 | L | March 23, 1971 | 2–7 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 21–39–13
74 | W | March 26, 1971 | 3–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 22–39–13
75 | W | March 28, 1971 | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 23–39–13
76 | W | March 31, 1971 | 6–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 24–39–13
77 | T | April 1, 1971 | 3–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 24–39–14
78 | T | April 4, 1971 | 3–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 24–39–15

## Player statistics[edit]

### Forwards[edit]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player  | GP  | G  | A  | Pts  | PIM

|
|
|
|
|

Gilbert Perreault | 78 | 38 | 34 | 72 | 19
Phil Goyette | 60 | 15 | 46 | 61 | 6
Gerry Meehan | 77 | 24 | 31 | 55 | 8
Don Marshall | 62 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 6
Eddie Shack | 56 | 25 | 17 | 42 | 93
Steve Atkinson | 57 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 12
Paul Andrea | 47 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 4
Al Hamilton | 69 | 2 | 28 | 30 | 71
Larry Keenan | 51 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 6
Doug Barrie | 75 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 168
Ron Anderson | 74 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 44
Dick Duff | 53 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 12
Floyd Smith | 77 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 46
Reg Fleming | 78 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 159
Jim Watson | 78 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 147
Skip Krake | 74 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 68
Tracy Pratt | 76 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 179

### Defencemen[edit]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player  | GP  | G  | A  | Pts  | PIM

|
|
|
|
|

Hap Myers | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6
Mike McMahon | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4
Paul Terbenche | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2
Jean-Guy Lagace | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2
Terry Ball | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Francois Lacombe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2
Jean-Guy Talbot | 57 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 36
Tracy Pratt | 76 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 179
Jim Watson | 78 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 147
Reg Fleming | 78 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 159
Doug Barrie | 75 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 168
Al Hamilton | 69 | 2 | 28 | 30 | 71

### Goaltending[edit]

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Player  | GP  | W  | L  | T  | SO  | GAA

|
|
|
|
|
|

Dave Dryden | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3.37
Roger Crozier | 44 | 9 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 3.68
Joe Daley | 38 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 3.70

## Awards and records[edit]

* Calder Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Perreault

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Gilbert Perreault Biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
2. ^ ""The Aud" – Memorial Auditorium". sabresalumni.com. Sabres Alumni. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
3. ^ "WHATS IN A NAME". NHL.com. Sabres.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
4. ^ "One on One with Gilbert Perreault". Hockey Hall of Fame. hhof.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
5. ^ Duhatschek, Eric; et al. (2001). Hockey Chronicles. New York City: Checkmark Books. ISBN 0-8160-4697-2.
6. ^ "First Overall Selections". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 13, 2001. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
7. ^ "1970–1971 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.

## External links[edit]

* Sabres on Hockey Database
* Sabres Ready and Touché films from the Sabres inaugural season

* v
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* e

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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[GP]: Games played
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[DIFF]: Goal Differential
*[Pts]: Points