Professional Hockey Player. For eleven seasons (1971 to 1982), he played at the left-wing position in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings. After three years with the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association (1968 to 1971), he was selected as Buffalo's 1st choice (5th overall pick) during the 1971 Amateur Draft. Martin achieved instant success in the NHL, as he scored 44 goals with 30 assists during his rookie season (1971-1972) and would become known throughout the league for his highly-effective slap shot. Over the course of his career, he produced two consecutive 50-plus goal years (1973-1974 with 52 and 1974-1975 with 52), and two additional better-than-40 goal seasons (1975-1976 with 49 and 1979-1980 with 45). Along with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert, Martin formed the famed Buffalo scoring line know as the "French Connection", who were a pivotal element in the success of the Sabres' reaching of the 1974-1975 Stanley Cup Finals. During that postseason, Martin scored 7 goals with 8 assists. In 685 career regular season games, he compiled 384 goals with 317 assists and earned NHL All-Star status seven-times (1972 to 1978). Following his playing career, he was involved with different business endeavors in the Buffalo-area. He was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. He died from an apparent health ailment while driving which led to a one car accident.
Professional Hockey Player. For eleven seasons (1971 to 1982), he played at the left-wing position in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings. After three years with the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association (1968 to 1971), he was selected as Buffalo's 1st choice (5th overall pick) during the 1971 Amateur Draft. Martin achieved instant success in the NHL, as he scored 44 goals with 30 assists during his rookie season (1971-1972) and would become known throughout the league for his highly-effective slap shot. Over the course of his career, he produced two consecutive 50-plus goal years (1973-1974 with 52 and 1974-1975 with 52), and two additional better-than-40 goal seasons (1975-1976 with 49 and 1979-1980 with 45). Along with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert, Martin formed the famed Buffalo scoring line know as the "French Connection", who were a pivotal element in the success of the Sabres' reaching of the 1974-1975 Stanley Cup Finals. During that postseason, Martin scored 7 goals with 8 assists. In 685 career regular season games, he compiled 384 goals with 317 assists and earned NHL All-Star status seven-times (1972 to 1978). Following his playing career, he was involved with different business endeavors in the Buffalo-area. He was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. He died from an apparent health ailment while driving which led to a one car accident.
Bio by: C.S.
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