Richard Lionel Martin (; ; July 26, 1951March 13, 2011) was a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
winger who played in the
NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
with the
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...
and
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...
for 11 seasons between 1971 and 1982. He was most famous for playing on the Sabres'
French Connection line with
Gilbert Perreault
Gilbert Perreault (born November 13, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played for 17 seasons with the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. Known for his ability ...
and
Rene Robert.
Playing career
Martin was drafted fifth overall by the
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...
in the
1971 NHL Amateur Draft after a
junior
Junior or Juniors may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* ''Junior'' (Junior Mance album), 1959
* ''Junior'' (Röyksopp album), 2009
* ''Junior'' (Kaki King album), 2010
* ''Junior'' (LaFontaines album), 2019
Films
* ''Junior'' (1994 ...
career with the
Montreal Junior Canadiens of the
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) is the governing body for the majority of junior and senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey As ...
(OHA). He played 685 career NHL games, scoring 384 goals and 317 assists for 701 points. His best season was the
1974–75 NHL season when he scored 52 goals and 95 points in only 68 games. Martin scored at least 44 goals five times in his NHL career. Martin was selected to play in seven consecutive
National Hockey League All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game (french: Match des Étoiles de la Ligue Nationale de Hockey, links=no) is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many o ...
s (
1971–72, through
1977–78) and was selected as the official
NHL All-Star first team left wing in
1973–74 and
1974–75 and the official NHL All-Star second team left wing in 1975–76 and 1976–77.
Martin holds the Buffalo Sabres franchise career records for
hat tricks, four-goal games, 40-goal seasons, consecutive 40-goal seasons, 50-goal seasons (tied with
Danny Gare
Daniel Mirl Gare (born May 14, 1954) is a Canadian broadcaster, ice hockey coach and former National Hockey League (NHL) player, most notably of the Buffalo Sabres. During a 13-year professional career, Gare also played for the Detroit Red Wings ...
), consecutive 50-goal seasons.
Martin is also #11 all-time in career goals per game average (.56) in NHL regular-season history.
Martin was involved in probably one of the three most frightening injuries on Buffalo home ice (the others being when
Clint Malarchuk's and
Richard Zednik's in separate incidents each had their
jugular vein
The jugular veins are veins that take deoxygenated blood from the head back to the heart via the superior vena cava. The internal jugular vein descends next to the internal carotid artery and continues posteriorly to the sternocleidomastoid mu ...
lacerated). Midway through the third period of the Sabres' 2-0 home win on February 9, 1978,
Dave Farrish
David Allan Farrish (born August 1, 1956) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 430 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Rangers, Quebec Nordiques, and Toronto Maple Leafs. While playin ...
of the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...
hooked Martin around the neck from behind and kicked Martin's feet out from under him, causing Martin to hit his head on the ice. He was knocked unconscious, and went into convulsions. After that play, helmets became a much more common sight on the heads of his Sabre teammates.
On November 8, 1980, Martin's career was dealt a devastating blow. In a game against the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, a ...
at the
Aud
The Australian dollar (sign: $; code: AUD) is the currency of Australia, including its external territories: Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island. It is officially used as currency by three independent Pacific Island s ...
, Martin was racing in on a breakaway. Capitals forward
Ryan Walter
Ryan William Walter (born April 23, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League. He was also an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks, head coach of the Canadian National Wo ...
managed to trip Martin and no penalty was called. Capitals goalie
Mike Palmateer
Michael Scott Palmateer (born January 13, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goalie. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1976 to 1984 for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals.
Playing career
As a yout ...
, already way out of his crease, knocked Martin back down by kicking his knee, causing severe
cartilage damage that all but ended Martin's career.
Martin underwent surgery in Toronto and on March 10, 1981,
Scotty Bowman
William Scott Bowman, OC (born September 18, 1933) is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs and ...
traded Martin and
Don Luce
Donald Harold Luce (born October 2, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre, executive and scout. Luce played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Los Ange ...
to the Kings for a pair of draft picks, one of which the Sabres used to get goalie
Tom Barrasso
Thomas Patrick Barrasso (born March 31, 1965) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 18 seasons. He began his time in the NHL with the Buffalo ...
in
1983. Martin played four games for the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...
before hanging up the skates. In 1989 he, along with the other two members of the French Connection, were inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame. His number 7 was retired along with
Rene Robert's #14 on November 15, 1995, flanking the #11 of
Gilbert Perreault
Gilbert Perreault (born November 13, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played for 17 seasons with the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. Known for his ability ...
under a French Connection banner. On Oct. 25, 2005, Martin was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. In 2010, in commemoration of the Sabres' 40th season, ''
The Buffalo News
''The Buffalo News'' is the daily newspaper of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area, located in downtown Buffalo, New York. It recently sold its headquarters to Uniland Development Corp. It was for decades the only paper fully owned by W ...
'' ranked Martin number 4 out of the top 40 Sabres of all time, while he was voted #5 by fans. After his death in 2011, the Sabres honored his memory by painting the number 7, the number Martin wore for most of his career with Buffalo, behind each goal at the
HSBC Arena
Jeunesse Arena is an indoor multi-purpose arena, located in the region of Barra da Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is named for the American cosmetics company Jeunesse Global through a naming rights deal closed in 2017. Before, the spons ...
for the remainder of the
2010-11 season.
In 2012, a statue of "The French Connection" was unveiled in front of the Sabres' arena, today known as KeyBank Center.
Achievements
*1st Team All Star (1973–74)
*1st Team All Star (1974–75)
*2nd Team All Star (1975–76)
*2nd Team All Star (1976–77)
*7 Straight NHL All Star Game Appearances (1972–1978)
*3rd All Time in Hat Tricks (21) among Left Wingers (Modern Era)
*11th All Time in Career Goals Per Game Average in NHL History
*Gold Championship Canada Cup 1976 (Team Canada)
*5 "Top 10" finishes in Goals
*2 "Top 10" finishes in Points
*5 "Top 10" finishes in Even Strength Goals
*3 "Top 10" finishes in Game Winning Goals
*5 "Top 10" finishes in Power Play Goals
*5 "Top 10" finishes in Goals Per Game Average
*2 "Top 10" finishes in Points Per Game Average
*6 Team Scoring Records (Buffalo Sabres)
* #7 Team Jersey Retired (Buffalo Sabres)
*Buffalo Sabres Hall Of Famer
Personal life
Rick and his wife were owners of Globalquest Solutions and Globalquest Staffing Solutions in Williamsville, New York.
Martin owned a bar/restaurant called Slapshot on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Rick Martin died on March 13, 2011, in
Clarence, New York
Clarence is a town located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States, northeast of Buffalo. The population was 32,950 according to the 2020 census estimate. This represents an increase of 7.4% from the 2010 census figure. T ...
, from a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
while driving, a complication of
hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
He was 59 years old. He was survived by his wife Mikey, who has since died on December 16, 2017, and his sons Cory, Josh, and Erick.
Later analysis revealed that Martin had stage 2
chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated trauma to the head. The encephalopathy symptoms can include behavioral problems, mood problems, and problems with thinking. The disease often gets worse ...
, a disease normally associated with
enforcers; the damage was believed to stem from a severe concussion Martin sustained in 1978, and it had no effect on his cognitive abilities. Martin is the first non-enforcer to have been diagnosed with the disease, which can only be diagnosed posthumously.
[Golen, Jimmy (October 5, 2011)]
Brain study finds damage in Rick Martin
. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
References
External links
*
Mikey Martin, Rick Martin's Wife
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Rick
1951 births
2011 deaths
Buffalo Sabres draft picks
Buffalo Sabres players
Canadian ice hockey left wingers
Ice hockey people from Montreal
Ice hockey players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Los Angeles Kings players
Moncton Golden Flames players
Montreal Junior Canadiens players
National Hockey League first-round draft picks
National Hockey League players with retired numbers
People from Verdun, Quebec