Man I loved watching Gilbert Perrault especially at the Canada Cup, he was so good, so physically strong. Thank you Tony for giving us the opportunity to hear him speak, what a gentleman and good guy!
I wasn’t alive for most of the 70s but I rank Perreault and Dionne above Lafleur. Dryden said that Perreault was probably the best 2-way player on the 1976 Canada Cup team while Lafleur couldn’t play in his own end at all. Dionne played on crappy teams and he exceeded Lafleur career numbers by so much!
Gilbert Perreault was one of the best I ever saw play, and being a Sabre fan, I had the privilege to watch him in person. Lafleur was also one of my favorite players ever. The games the Habs and Sabres had through the years with these two were amazing!
Gil is THE man. I feel so lucky to grow up as a Sabres fan on Grand Island being able to witness the French Connection in real time. Gil was a tap dancing master who had dangles yet to be equaled by any of today's players.
Look at Gil Perreault's career and you'll see he was the best amateur hockey player in Quebec history and it all went from there. The whole time he played hockey he was the best player Quebec had yet produced. That is what makes Gil Perreault so great.
Very well done Tony! I was a huge Habs fan growing up, loved Lafleur and Shutt the most on the Habs, but, I remember the Canada Cup in the mid 70's when I was around 10 years old (and I watched the DVD series again recently), Gilbert Perreault was at another level of speed and skill compared to the rest, by far the best player in that series on any team. Incredible player, incredible career he's another humble all-time legend that we should never forget. Thank you Tony and thank you Gilbert for all the great memories, keep well.
Great interview Tony - Kind of unfair that Perreault never won a Cup. Gets drafted to an expansion team and has to go up against dynasty teams for his entire career. The Flyers, Bruins, Canadiens and Islanders. One thing for sure Perreault always showed up in the playoffs and was always a standout when he wore the Team Canada jersey. If you ask defensemen of the 70's, nobody was scarier on a 1 on 1 situation. You have to wonder how his career would be different if he was a Montreal Canadien. Regardless, he brought so much joy to the people of WNY and Southern Ont who would go to see him play at the old Aud.....best of health Gilbert!
It’s hard to say with the Habs because they’re so deep that these players might not have developed as much. Imagine Perreault, Dionne, Potvin, Bossy and D. Savard on the same team!
Named my dog Burt many years ago... Perrault's Nick name...when he skated it was breathtaking...but I must say watching Guy fly down the wing with his hair flowing was one one of the many attributes that make hockey the beautiful game it is...thanks #10
One of the great lines of all time was canada cup 1981. Perreault centred lafleur on the right and gretzky on the left (likely the only time gretzky played wing). The line was so dominant and perreault had 9 points in 4 games and was the star of the tournament until he broke his ankle.
I remember going up to the Forum on Sunday nights and watching Gilbert play with the Junior Canadiens. Such I treat to watch. His skating, watched him go end to end and Score 5 in the 3rd period to beat Niagara Falls Flyers and among others.
Gilbert Perreault as a kid in the 70s I spent many nights at the auditorium in Buffalo watching you play with Martin and Robert thank you for the memories
1st time on channel...very impressesed one minute in...it`s nice to have hockey people talk hockey...and yes Gilbert and Guy are/were both superstars....thankyou la belle province....
If Team Canada 1972 coach Harry Sinden had been able to he should have put together a line of Gilbert Perreault on left wing, Marcel Dionne at center, and Guy Lafleur on right wing. While they wouldn't have been all that good defensively their speed would have driven the Russians crazy!
16:11 Lafleur wished he had played with Perreault. 16:33 Played with Gretzky and Lafleur in '81 and Dionne and Hull in '76. 36:33 One other reason for not trading Lafleur in '84 was to imagine what would happen if he went to Edmonton and scored 60 goals. 38:13 Gilbert Perreault only asks for one Stanley Cup.
Gilbert Perrault was an elegant player, great skater. Never scored 50 goals in a season however buried the puck 512 times as a pro. He started his Junior career when I was born (LOL). He started his pro career as a Sabre and ended it as a Sabre. Lafleur was never treated as well by his own club. Lemaire was prick.
When you think of the NHL in the 70s - those are the two players Perreault and Lafleur there were not any better to watch. Both made hockey look beautiful to watch - so creative , instinctive. those will always be the tops for me. You bring the guest on - and he wouldn't let Perreault get a word in !! my god how embarrassing
In fairness to Lemaire, Lafleur's great speed and 100-point seasons were long gone when Jacques was coach. Even Ken Dryden said that. I think even Scotty would have done the same if he had still been coaching the Habs.
Tony you gotta have thick skin in montreal and yours must be 3 inches thick by now. I 100% agree with sending Roy down and its not a form of punishment in anyway. I believe it would have done wonders for his development to join laval and fight along side future teammates to make the playoffs and make some magic happen. Unfortunately most people cant see the big picture and think outside the box they can only see in 2 dimensions and can't see whats going on around them if you catch my meaning. I think the habs management would have prefered to send Roy down already but I get the feeling they felt the pressure from the french media and french fans of sending a francophone down would have gone crazy when yes he was playing great but he's still young and needs development and could have used the experience of fighting for the playoffs in the ahl. Keep up the great job Tony, if you arent making people mad every so often your not doing your job.
It was so hard to believe that in 1972 Canada Cup that they did not use Perrault in the USSR so he came home. A super hockey player like Gilbert wasn't allowed to play? How stupid was Harry Sinden?
If it wasn't for the expansion draft Perreault would of played for Montréal as the Montréal junior Canadians were a farm team of Montréal and so were the Quebec ramparts
