1971–72 Buffalo Sabres season

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1971–72 Buffalo Sabres
Division6th East
1971–72 record16–43–19
Home record11–19–9
Road record5–24–10
Goals for203
Goals against228
Team information
General managerPunch Imlach
CoachPunch Imlach
CaptainGerry Meehan
ArenaBuffalo Memorial Auditorium
Average attendance15,324
Team leaders
GoalsRick Martin (44)
AssistsGilbert Perreault (48)
PointsTie: Perreault, Martin (74)
Penalty minutesAl Hamilton (105)
WinsRoger Crozier (13)
Goals against averageRoger Crozier (3.51)

The 1971–72 Buffalo Sabres season was the Buffalo Sabres second season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Offseason

An $8.7 million (approximately $65.5 million in 2023 dollars)[1] renovation took place after the 1970–71 inauguration of the Sabres and Buffalo Braves franchises. The arena's roof was raised 24 feet, making room for a new upper level. This raised the total capacity of the arena to over 17,000 for basketball and 15,858 for hockey, making it a more suitable home for the NBA and NHL.[2]

Regular season

For the second consecutive season the Sabres had a breakout rookie performance by their first round draft pick.

Rene Robert.[4]

Final standings

East Division[5]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Boston Bruins 78 54 13 11 330 204 +126 119
2 New York Rangers 78 48 17 13 317 192 +125 109
3 Montreal Canadiens 78 46 16 16 307 205 +102 108
4 Toronto Maple Leafs 78 33 31 14 209 208 +1 80
5 Detroit Red Wings 78 33 35 10 261 262 −1 76
6 Buffalo Sabres 78 16 43 19 203 289 −86 51
7 Vancouver Canucks 78 20 50 8 203 297 −94 48


Record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

Regular season results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 10, 1971 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) 1–0–0
2 L October 12, 1971 1–9 @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 1–1–0
3 L October 14, 1971 2–6 @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) 1–2–0
4 L October 16, 1971 3–9 @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 1–3–0
5 L October 17, 1971 2–3 Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 1–4–0
6 W October 20, 1971 7–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 2–4–0
7 L October 21, 1971 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 2–5–0
8 L October 23, 1971 1–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 2–6–0
9 L October 24, 1971 2–3 St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 2–7–0
10 W October 27, 1971 3–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 3–7–0
11 T October 30, 1971 4–4 @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 3–7–1
12 T October 31, 1971 2–2 @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) 3–7–2
13 T November 4, 1971 4–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 3–7–3
14 W November 5, 1971 5–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 4–7–3
15 T November 7, 1971 3–3 Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 4–7–4
16 L November 11, 1971 2–4 Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 4–8–4
17 L November 13, 1971 2–5 @ New York Rangers (1971–72) 4–9–4
18 T November 14, 1971 2–2 Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 4–9–5
19 L November 18, 1971 5–7 California Golden Seals (1971–72) 4–10–5
20 L November 21, 1971 3–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 4–11–5
21 L November 24, 1971 3–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 4–12–5
22 L November 27, 1971 2–5 @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 4–13–5
23 L November 28, 1971 3–5 @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) 4–14–5
24 L December 1, 1971 2–7 @ New York Rangers (1971–72) 4–15–5
25 W December 2, 1971 2–0 Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 5–15–5
26 L December 4, 1971 1–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 5–16–5
27 W December 5, 1971 3–1 Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 6–16–5
28 L December 9, 1971 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 6–17–5
29 T December 11, 1971 3–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) 6–17–6
30 L December 12, 1971 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 6–18–6
31 L December 15, 1971 1–2 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 6–19–6
32 L December 16, 1971 0–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 6–20–6
33 L December 18, 1971 1–8 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 6–21–6
34 W December 19, 1971 5–1 Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 7–21–6
35 T December 23, 1971 4–4 Boston Bruins (1971–72) 7–21–7
36 T December 25, 1971 4–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 7–21–8
37 W December 26, 1971 6–3 St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 8–21–8
38 L December 29, 1971 3–7 Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 8–22–8
39 T December 31, 1971 3–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) 8–22–9
40 T January 2, 1972 4–4 California Golden Seals (1971–72) 8–22–10
41 L January 6, 1972 2–5 Boston Bruins (1971–72) 8–23–10
42 L January 9, 1972 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 8–24–10
43 L January 13, 1972 2–5 New York Rangers (1971–72) 8–25–10
44 L January 15, 1972 2–6 @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 8–26–10
45 W January 16, 1972 4–2 Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 9–26–10
46 W January 20, 1972 1–0 Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 10–26–10
47 L January 22, 1972 2–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 10–27–10
48 T January 23, 1972 3–3 @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) 10–27–11
49 L January 26, 1972 1–5 @ New York Rangers (1971–72) 10–28–11
50 L January 27, 1972 1–3 Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 10–29–11
51 T January 30, 1972 2–2 Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 10–29–12
52 L February 3, 1972 2–4 New York Rangers (1971–72) 10–30–12
53 T February 5, 1972 3–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 10–30–13
54 W February 6, 1972 8–2 Boston Bruins (1971–72) 11–30–13
55 L February 10, 1972 2–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 11–31–13
56 L February 12, 1972 1–5 @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) 11–32–13
57 T February 13, 1972 4–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 11–32–14
58 L February 17, 1972 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) 11–33–14
59 L February 19, 1972 1–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 11–34–14
60 L February 20, 1972 0–4 Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 11–35–14
61 W February 23, 1972 2–1 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 12–35–14
62 W February 24, 1972 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 13–35–14
63 T February 27, 1972 4–4 California Golden Seals (1971–72) 13–35–15
64 L March 1, 1972 1–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 13–36–15
65 L March 2, 1972 3–4 New York Rangers (1971–72) 13–37–15
66 L March 5, 1972 2–6 St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 13–38–15
67 L March 8, 1972 3–6 @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) 13–39–15
68 L March 10, 1972 2–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 13–40–15
69 L March 11, 1972 3–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 13–41–15
70 W March 14, 1972 4–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 14–41–15
71 T March 16, 1972 3–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 14–41–16
72 L March 17, 1972 2–6 Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 14–42–16
73 T March 19, 1972 3–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 14–42–17
74 W March 22, 1972 4–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) 15–42–17
75 T March 23, 1972 4–4 Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 15–42–18
76 T March 26, 1972 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) 15–42–19
77 L March 30, 1972 1–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 15–43–19
78 W April 2, 1972 3–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 16–43–19

Playoffs

The Sabres failed to make the playoffs in the 1971–72 season.

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
Player GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Rick Martin 73 44 30 74 36 −38 19 0 5
Gilbert Perreault 76 26 48 74 24 −40 11 0 1
Gerry Meehan 77 19 27 46 12 −28 4 0 2
Al Hamilton 76 4 30 34 105 −12 1 0 1
Eddie Shack 50 11 14 25 34 −11 4 0 0
Steve Atkinson 67 14 10 24 26 −22 3 0 0
Jim Lorentz 33 10 14 24 12 −11 2 0 1
Chris Evans 61 6 18 24 98 −20 2 0 0
Phil Goyette 37 3 21 24 14 −10 3 0 0
Don Luce 78 11 8 19 38 −18 0 0 1
Danny Lawson 78 10 6 16 15 −23 0 1 0
Mike Byers 46 9 7 16 12 −20 3 0 1
Craig Ramsay 57 6 10 16 0 5 0 0 2
Kevin O'Shea 52 6 9 15 44 −19 0 0 0
Mike Robitaille 31 2 10 12 22 −14 1 0 0
Larry Hillman 43 1 11 12 58 −21 0 0 0
Tracy Pratt 27 0 10 10 52 0 0 0 0
Rene Robert
 12 6 3 9 2 −5 3 0 0
Jim Watson 66 2 6 8 101 −33 1 0 0
Randy Wyrozub 34 3 4 7 0 −2 0 0 0
Doug Barrie 27 2 5 7 45 −21 0 0 1
Dick Duff 8 2 2 4 0 −2 0 0 0
Ron Anderson
 37 0 4 4 19 −10 0 0 0
Rod Zaine 24 2 1 3 4 −14 0 0 1
Ray McKay 39 0 3 3 18 −12 0 0 0
Larry Keenan 14 2 0 2 2 −3 0 0 0
Butch Deadmarsh 12 1 1 2 4 −10 0 0 0
John Gould 2 1 0 1 0 −1 0 0 0
Terry Ball 10 0 1 1 6 −7 0 0 0
Larry Mickey 4 0 1 1 0 −1 0 0 0
Floyd Smith 6 0 1 1 2 −3 0 0 0
Roger Crozier 63 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0
Dave Dryden 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Paul Terbenche 9 0 0 0 2 −13 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Roger Crozier 3654 63 13 34 14 214 3.51 2
Dave Dryden 1026 20 3 9 5 68 3.98 0
Team: 4680 78 16 43 19 282 3.62 2

[7]

Awards and records

The Sabres were not awarded any individual or team awards in the 1971–72 season.

Transactions

Date
Details
May 25, 1971 To Detroit Red Wings
Joe Daley 		To Buffalo Sabres
Don Luce
Mike Robitaille
November 16, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
Larry Keenan 		To Buffalo Sabres
Larry Mickey
December 16, 1971 To Los Angeles Kings
Doug Barrie
Mike Keeler 		To Buffalo Sabres
Mike Byers
Larry Hillman
January 14, 1972 To
1972 (Larry Sacharuk
) 		Buffalo Sabres
Jim Lorentz
March 4, 1972 To Pittsburgh Penguins
Eddie Shack 		To Buffalo Sabres
René Robert
March 5, 1972 To St. Louis Blues
Chris Evans 		To Buffalo Sabres
1972 (Larry Carriere
)
March 5, 1972 To New York Rangers
Phil Goyette (Negotiating Rights) 		To Buffalo Sabres
Cash

Intra-League Draft

June 8, 1971 From Chicago Blackhawks
Ray McKay
June 8, 1971 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Don Marshall
June 8, 1971 From
Rene Robert
June 8, 1971 From Montreal Canadiens
Hugh Harris
June 8, 1971 To
Rene Robert
June 8, 1971 From Minnesota North Stars
Danny Lawson
June 8, 1971 From Pittsburgh Penguins
Rod Zaine
June 8, 1971 From Detroit Red Wings
Tom Miller
June 8, 1971 From Toronto Maple Leafs
Ken Murray
June 8, 1971 To Los Angeles Kings
Gary Edwards

Reverse Draft

June 7, 1971 To Providence Reds (AHL)
Brian Perry

Free Agency

August 1971 Signed
John Gould
September 1971 Signed
Rick Dudley
September 29, 1971 Signed
Gary Bromley

Lost via retirement

Player
Jean-Guy Talbot

Draft picks

NHL draft

See also:
1971 NHL Amateur Draft
Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team
1 5 Rick Martin  Canada Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)
2 19 Craig Ramsay  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA)
3 33 Bill Hajt  Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
4 47 Bob Richer  Canada
QMJHL
)
5 61 Steve Warr  Canada Clarkson University (ECAC)
6 75 Pierre Duguay  Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

Farm teams

For the 1971–72 season Buffalo's AHL farm team was the Cincinnati Swords. In the team's inaugural season they would post a 30–28–18 record placing 3rd in the West Division which would secure a playoff berth. The first round brought the 2nd seed Hershey Bears who were swept. In the second round the Swords faced off against the 1st seed Baltimore Clippers losing the series 4–2.

See also

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ ""The Aud" – Memorial Auditorium". Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association. sabresalumni.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  3. ^ "Rick Martin Profile". Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association. SabresAlumni.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Rene Robert". Hockey Hall of Fame. legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  5. ^ "1971–1972 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  6. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "1971-72 Buffalo Sabres Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
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