Rick Martin
Richard Lionel Martin ( born July 26, 1951 in Verdun, Quebec, † March 13, 2011 in Clarence, New York, United States) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is 1971-1982 for the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League played. He achieved fame because he one of the most impressive offensive series of the Sabres Gilbert Perreault and René formed with Robert in their history - The French Connection.
Martin completed a total of 685 NHL games during the regular season, in which he scored 384 goals and 317 assists for a total of 701 contributed points scorer. His most successful season was the season 1974/75 in which he scored 52 goals in 68 games and gave an additional 43 templates. During his NHL career, he scored in five seasons in each case more than 44 goals, which underlines his eye for goal.
On March 13, 2011 Martin suffered during a car ride in a suburb of Buffalo a heart attack and died at the accident site.
- 2.1 International
- 3.1 International
Career
Martin was drafted during the NHL Amateur Draft 1971 in fifth place of the Buffalo Sabres. Previously, he had played in the Quebec Junior Hockey League for the Thetford Mines Canadiens before he moved to the Montreal Junior Canadiens in the Ontario Hockey Association. In his first year in Montréal Martin scored 22 goals and won with his team the Memorial Cup. Two years later, he scored 71 goals for the Canadiens, was drafted and was elected to the First All -Star team of the OHA.
In his first year with the Sabres he surpassed the record of his strike partner Perreault, by scoring 44 goals in his rookie season. Along with his 30 assists he put through his 74 points in a franchise record for rookies. In the 1973/74 season Martin reached the mark of 52 goals, but the Sabres still missed the play-offs, as well as Gilbert Perreault with a broken leg had to suspend the second half of the season. Otherwise it ran into the next season. With Perreault and again scored 52 goals by Martin, the Sabres reached the Stanley Cup final. Martin scored another 15 points in the playoffs.
On November 8, 1980 his career took a turn as an active athlete. In a game against the Washington Capitals at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Martin sprinted to the gate of the Capitals to, as a striker Walter Ryan tripped him, but was shown no penalty. Capitals of the goalkeeper, Mike Palmateer, was already far from the goal area out and brought Martin might be found by kicking his knee and cartilage damage caused, which should ultimately mean the end of career for Martin.
Martin underwent surgery in March 1981 in Toronto and transferred from Scotty Bowman, the former manager of the Sabres, along with Don Luce to the Los Angeles Kings. In return, the Sabres two draft picks that were used were given to 1983 the goalie Tom Barrasso to take under contract. Martin completed a total of just five games for the Kings before going into the 1982/83 season ended his career after three games.
His shirt number 7 is not longer available from the Sabres and hung in a ceremony on 15 November 1995 under the hall roof HSBC Arena, where it has since suspended side by side with the jerseys of René Robert and Gilbert Perreault.
Internationally
At international level, Martin represented his native country at the 1972 Summit Series and the Canada Cup. 1976th In the Summit Series, he served as a reserve player and came in the duels against the USSR no inserts Four years later he competed in the context of the first Canada Cup four games. He scored three goals and set up two more before. In the end, he won the gold medal with Canadians.
Awards and achievements
Internationally
Career Stats
Internationally
Represented Canada at:
- Summit Series 1972
- Canada Cup 1976
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )