Sabre Noise
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5 best first-round picks in Buffalo Sabres history

By Sion Fawkes

BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 23: New Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula stands with former Sabres palyers Rene Robert #14, Rick Martin #7 and Gilbert Perreault #11 during pre game ceremonies prior to play against the Atlanta Thrashers at HSBC Arena on February 23, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 23: New Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula stands with former Sabres palyers Rene Robert #14, Rick Martin #7 and Gilbert Perreault #11 during pre game ceremonies prior to play against the Atlanta Thrashers at HSBC Arena on February 23, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /
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Gilbert Perreault

Perreault would be in the conversation for the top draft pick ever in Sabres history. And if it wasn’t for Punch Imlach pointing out an error on the roulette wheel that determined the first overall pick in the 1970 NHL Draft, Perreault would have gone to the Sabres’ expansion brethren, the Vancouver Canucks.

Perreault spent his entire NHL career with the Sabres, and he still holds franchise records in games played, goals scored, assists, points, and game-winning goals, among others. His career started off with a bang when he won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1971, and he followed up with the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1973.

He played in eight NHL All-Star Games, and was named NHL Second-Team All-Star twice. Hockey-Reference has ranked Perreault as the second-best player in franchise history. Perreault is a member of the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and his #11 became the first retired number in franchise history.

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