Rene Robert

René Robert ( (December 31, 1948 – June 22, 2021)) was a Canadian professional right winger who played 12 seasons in the NHL between 1970 and 1982. Robert was selected to 2 National Hockey League All-Star Games (1972–73, 1974–75) and was selected as the as the Official Second NHL All-Star Team right wing in 1974–75.

Robert played 744 career NHL games, scoring 284 goals and 418 assists for 702 points. His best offensive season was the 1974–75 season while with the Buffalo Sabres, when he scored 40 goals and 60 assists for 100 points, the club's first 100 point season by an individual. Robert's best years were when he played on The French Connection line in Buffalo with Gilbert Perreault and Rick Martin. On October 5, 1979, Scotty Bowman sent Robert to the Colorado Rockies for defenceman John Van Boxmeer, effectively ending the French Connection line forever. His number, 14, was retired from the Buffalo Sabres on November 15, 1995 along with Rick Martin. They were reunited with Perreault whose number was retired in a 1990 ceremony.

Later life
After retiring from professional ice hockey, Robert acted as president of the NHL Alumni Association. He was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame along with Perreault and Martin in 1989. His number 14 was retired by the Sabres on November 15, 1995, along with Rick Martin's number 7 jersey. They were reunited with Perreault whose number was retired in a 1990 ceremony.

Robert divided his time between Western New York and Florida. The driveway at his home in Buffalo was constructed from pieces of the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium after its demolition in 2009. He had a heart attack on June 18, 2021, and was placed on life support. He died four days later on June 22 at a hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida, at the age of 72.