Buffalo acquires Luce and Robitaille from Detroit for Daley

In the month of August, as the news in the hockey world slows to a crawl, we will be taking a look at the most consequential deals in Buffalo Sabres history (using the Hockey News Archives as source material) and ranking the 15 best and the 15 worst deals in the club’s 54-year history.

This required the input of a trio of veteran media members (Dave Reichert, Randy Schultz, and Pete Weber), as well as three lifetime Sabre fans (Chuck Bender, Todd Riniolo, and Joe Schwartz).

9. May 26, 1971 – Buffalo acquires center Don Luce and defenseman Mike Robataille from the Detroit Red Wings for goalie Joe Daley.

READ ABOUT OTHER SABRES TRADES

Best Trades In Sabres History - #10

Worst Trades In Sabres History - #10

Punch Imlach’s astute moves as Buffalo Sabres GM in the first couple years after the club joined the NHL in 1970 accelerated their ascendence to being a Stanley Cup contender in just five seasons. One of the best deals Imlach made was with the Detroit Red Wings after the Sabres inaugural season in May 1971.

The veteran Imlach took advantage of Wings rookie GM Ned Harkness, swapping veteran goalie Joe Daley for center Don Luce and defenseman Mike Robitaille.

Daley was the Sabres first selection in the 1970 Intraleague Draft from the Pittsburgh Penguins and split time with Roger Crozier (who Buffalo obtained in a trade with Detroit) in 1970-71. The Red Wings were a turnstile of transactions under former GM Sid Abel and Harkness. Luce, a 1966 third-round pick of the NY Rangers, was acquired by Detroit in November 1970 and played only 58 games in the Motor City before being dispatched to the Sabres. Robitaille was acquired from the Rangers the following February and played just 23 games for the Winged Wheel.

The deal proved to be a calamity for Detroit, as Daley played just one season for the Wings before defecting to the WHA and signing with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. Robitaille was a solid blueliner for the Sabres for three seasons before being dealt to Vancouver for Jocelyn Guevremont in 1974. After his playing career, Robitaille returned to Buffalo to join the club’s broadcast crew with Rick Jeanneret.

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Luce scored 20 or more goals in six straight seasons (1974 – 1979) and ended up being one of the league’s best two-way centers. He was a perfect complement to Hall-of-Famer Gilbert Perreault. While Perreault anchored the French Connection, Luce formed an excellent checking and penalty-killing duo with winger Craig Ramsay and when Danny Gare joined the club in 1974, the trio became one of the league’s best second lines.

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