He is immortalized with a statue outside of the Buffalo's Sabres arena and his number hangs from the rafters after being retired in 1995. Rene Robert, according to a report by The Athletic, is in hospital in Florida after suffering a serious heart attack. The Athletic states it is believed to be life-threatening.
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. 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. He would end his career after the 1981-82 season, which he spent with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"He was the missing piece of The French Connection," Rip Simonick, the Sabres' equipment manager since Day 1 of the franchise, told The Athletic Friday. "We were the worst team in the league the year before, but it goes to show you if you put three solid players together, you could go as far as they can carry you."
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. Our thoughts are with Robert and his family at this trying time.
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