High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Gilbert Perreault (born November 13, 1950 in Victoriaville, Quebec) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for seventeen seasons with the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. He was inducted to the NHL Hall of Fame in 1990. Known for his ability to stickhandle in close quarters, he was regarded as one of the most gifted and skillful playmaking centres ever to play the game. He is the original Buffalo Sabre because he was drafted first by the team in their inaugural season in the NHL. He is well known as the centre man for the prolific trio of Sabres forwards known as The French Connection. Perreault was a standout junior hockey player who went on to become a nine time NHL ALL-Star, two time official NHL All-Star Team (second team centre) selection, a Calder Trophy winner, a Lady Byng Trophy winner and a Hockey Hall of Famer.