Réal Cloutier

Réal "Buddy" Cloutier ( born July 30, 1956 in Saint -Émile, Quebec ) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player ( Right Wing ) of the Buffalo Sabres in 1974-1985 for the Quebec Nordiques in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League played.

Career

Cloutier began his Junioerenkarriere at the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. There, the then 16 -year-old shone in his first season with 39 goals and 99 points. His team reached the finals at the Memorial Cup. But her opponent, the Toronto Marlboros, with the young Mark Howe, outclassed the Remparts 9-1. The following year, Cloutier led his team with 93 goals and 216 points again impressive in the Memorial Cup tournament. They reached the finals again, where they lost this time against the Regina Pats.

In WHA Amateur Draft 1974, he was selected in the first round by the Quebec Nordiques in ninth and as he was of the opinion that he could no longer continue to develop at youth level, he dared the immediate jump in the World Hockey Association. The rules of the NHL were at that time no earlier than one choice in the NHL Amateur Draft 1976. Instant managed Cloutier breakthrough. With 53 points, he played a decent rookie season and in the season 1975/76 he shined with 114 points. He had, however, can not get rid of a blemish. In his first WHA season, he had lost a finals series in a row for the third time.

In the NHL had of course noticed him. And so the Chicago Blackhawks secured the 1976 Draft in the first round of the rights to him. As in the WHA, it was also the ninth in the NHL Draft position at which it was selected. But Cloutier remained with the Nordiques and in the 1976/77 season he played a big part on winning his first title. With 141 points, he was top scorer of the WHA and also in the playoffs, he contributed 14 goals in. He played two more years in the WHA before it merged with the NHL. In Quebec, they sacrificed the first-round draft pick in 1980, so the Blackhawks not claimed their rights to Cloutier. With Denis Savard you were compensated properly in Chicago.

In the first season the Nordiques in the NHL, 1979/80, he was the best scorer of his team. A year later, he was plagued by injuries frequently, but he returned in the season 1981/82 back to his high level and brought it to 97 points.

After another year in Quebec, he moved to the Buffalo Sabres. There he had the impression that his performance waned. The 1984/85 season was a big disappointment and he was employed in the farm teams of the Sabres, at the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League and the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. At 28, the once- talented Cloutier ended his career. Often accused him that he had given up too soon. Many suspected mental problems rather than a physical break-in. In the years in the NHL, he had placed his skills, but to the prominent position which he had earned in the WHA, he could not come close.

Statistics

Sporting successes

  • Avco World Trophy: 1977

Personal Awards

  • QMJHL Second All-Star Team: 1974
  • WHA First All -Star Team: 1979
  • WHA Second All-Star Team: 1976, 1977 and 1978
  • Bill Hunter Trophy: 1977 and 1979
  • WHA All-Star Game: 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979
  • WHA All-Star Game MVP: 1976 (jointly with Paul Shmyr )
  • NHL All-Star Game: 1980

Records

  • 3 goals in his first NHL game (10 October 1979) (together with Alex Smart, Fabian and Derek Stepan Brunnström )
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