Hockey Hall of Fame center Gilbert Perreault has been saddened by the death of his Buffalo Sabres linemate and close friend Rene Robert.” Robert died in a Florida hospital on Tuesday less than a week after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 72. Perreault, Robert and left wing Rick Martin formed the Sabres’ famed “French Connection Line” in the early 1970s following Buffalo’s acquisition of Robert in a trade. Perrault recalled first playing against Robert while the two were playing in the Quebec Junior League in 1966.
