Sabres goaltending history - A look back through RCs

Ironman Indy

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Ok I’ve had a request to go through the goaltending history of the Buffalo Sabres so here it is.

The :sabres: joined the NHL for the 1970-71 season

1970-71

That first season saw veteran Roger Crozier, who came over from Detroit in a trade, and Joe Daley, who was claimed from Pittsburgh, share most of the starts.

1964CrozierToppsRC.jpg
1968DaleyOPCRC.jpg


Dave Dryden, older brother of Ken, would see action in 10 games.

1967DrydenToppsRC.jpg


Most notably would be a game on March 20 that marked the first time two goaltending brothers faced each other in an NHL game.

1971-73

For two seasons Crozier would be the primary starter with Dryden also getting in a good number of games. Daley was traded to Detroit in May 0f 71.

Norm “Rocky” Farr would appear in one game during the 72-73 season

FranchisesFarr.jpg


1973-74

Dryden would take over as the #1 goalie with Crozier, Farr and Gary Bromley dividing the remainder of time between the pipes fairly equally among them.

1974BromleyOPCRC.jpg


1974-75

Bromley would see the most action this season with Crozier, Farr and Gerry Desjardins (trade with the Islanders) also getting starts.

1969DesjardinsOPCRC.jpg


1975-76

Desjardins earns the #1 job with new comer Al Smith coming over from Detroit getting most of the backup duty.

1970SmithAOPCRC.jpg


Crozier also would see action and Bromley has one final appearance before going to the WHA for the 76-77 season.

1976-77

Desjardins continues to get the lion’s share of the starts with rookies Don Edwards and Bob Sauve also seeing time in net.

1977EdwardsRC.jpg
1976SauveOPCRC.jpg


Smith would also see action and would flee to the WHA at season’s end.

1977-78

Edwards plays in an amazing 72 games as Sauve and Desjardins are left to feed on the scraps.

1978-82

This 4 year stretch sees a bit of stability for Buffalo as Edwards and Sauve share the load with Edwards remaining the #1.

They would share a Vezina for their efforts following the 79-80 season.

Randy Ireland, Jacques Cloutier and Paul Harrison see limited time in net during this span

FranchisesIreland.jpg
1990CloutierUDRC.jpg


1978HarrisonOPCRC.jpg


1982-83

With Edwards traded to Calgary in May, Sauve takes over with Cloutier his backup.

Vetran Phil Myre appears in 5 games after being acquired from Colorado.

1972MyreRCOPC.jpg


1983-88

Buffalo’s 1st round, 5th overall pick Tom Barrasso takes over as the Sabres #1 goalie.

1984BarrassoTpsRC.jpg


Barrasso would win both the Calder and Vezina as a rookie.

Over this 6 year stretch Sauve and Cloutier would serve as backups while Darren Puppa would see limited action starting in the 85-86 season.

1989PuppaOPCRC.jpg


1988-89

After Barrasso is traded to Pittsburgh in November, Puppa and Cloutier platoon for much of the season.

Also making appearances are Clint Malarchuk, Darren Eliot and Darcy Wakaluk.

1986MalarchukOPCRC.jpg
FranchisesEliot.jpg


1991WakalukScoreRC.jpg


1989-92

Puppa and Malarchuk would share goalie duty 3 seasons with Wakaluk, Tom Draper and David Littman also seeing action.

1991DraperPinnacleRC.jpg
1993LittmanUltraRC.jpg


1992-93

Four goaltenders see double digit starts as Grant Fuhr joins the squad in February from Toronto with Puppa (and Dave Andreychuk) going the other way

1982FuhrOPCRC.jpg


Draper gets in eleven games and future superstar Dominik Hasek see his first action after coming over from Chicago.

1991HasekUDRC.jpg


He would lead the Sabres and the NHL for the next 8 years winning 6 Vezinas and 2 Hart trophies.

Thanks again for stopping by.
 
I remember chasing down one of those Barrasso rookies and the high number trophy winner card. Back then there were very few card collectors in my small town (600 people and 2 stores). It took me years and I think a pretty decent card to pry one of those from a fellow collector and good buddy. I think I was the only one who had one.

Hasek is still one of my favorite all time goalies and IMO the best ever. He was just a beast for Buffalo.
 
Any thread that pictures Joe Daley's rookie card is worthy of "nice stuff, thanks for showing!"
 

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