Ironman Indy
2009 Most Generous Member of the Year,
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.
Dave Dryden, older brother of Ken, would see action in 10 games.
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
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.
1974-75
Bromley would see the most action this season with Crozier, Farr and Gerry Desjardins (trade with the Islanders) also getting starts.
1975-76
Desjardins earns the #1 job with new comer Al Smith coming over from Detroit getting most of the backup duty.
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.
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
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.
1983-88
Buffalo’s 1st round, 5th overall pick Tom Barrasso takes over as the Sabres #1 goalie.
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.
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.
1989-92
Puppa and Malarchuk would share goalie duty 3 seasons with Wakaluk, Tom Draper and David Littman also seeing action.
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
Draper gets in eleven games and future superstar Dominik Hasek see his first action after coming over from Chicago.
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.
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.
Dave Dryden, older brother of Ken, would see action in 10 games.
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
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.
1974-75
Bromley would see the most action this season with Crozier, Farr and Gerry Desjardins (trade with the Islanders) also getting starts.
1975-76
Desjardins earns the #1 job with new comer Al Smith coming over from Detroit getting most of the backup duty.
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.
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
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.
1983-88
Buffalo’s 1st round, 5th overall pick Tom Barrasso takes over as the Sabres #1 goalie.
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.
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.
1989-92
Puppa and Malarchuk would share goalie duty 3 seasons with Wakaluk, Tom Draper and David Littman also seeing action.
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
Draper gets in eleven games and future superstar Dominik Hasek see his first action after coming over from Chicago.
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.
