We took a look at the biggest trades in Buffalo Sabers history (using the Hockey News archives as a source) and ranked the 15 best and 15 worst trades in the club’s 54-year history.
This required input from a trio of veteran media members (Dave Reichert, Randy Schultz and Pete Weber), as well as three lifelong Saber fans (Chuck Bender, Todd Riniolo and Joe Schwartz).
5. June 11, 1976 – The Sabers acquired center André Savard from the Boston Bruins for center Peter McNab
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After reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1975, the Buffalo Sabers were expected to contend again in 1976, but they struggled in the 1976 playoffs, barely beating the underdog St. Louis Blues with rookie guard Ed Staniowski in the first round before losing to New York. The Islanders in the quarterfinals.
In the summer of 1976, general manager Punch Imlach was looking for more two-way ability in the middle with Gilbert Perreault and Don Luce as their two best offensive centers. The Sabers completed a one-for-one deal with their Adams Division rival, the Boston Bruins, trading 24-year-old center Peter McNab, an unsigned free agent, for 22-year-old Andre Savard, also an unsigned free agent.
Savard was the sixth overall pick in the 1972 draft and was a big scorer for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL (67 goals in his final junior year), but he settled into a more two-way role for the Bruins , scoring 16, 19 and 17 goals in his first three seasons.
McNab was an NCAA product out of the University of Denver after being selected in the sixth round of the 1972 draft. The 6’3″, 205 lb center split his time between the AHL and NHL in 1973-74 before to score more than 20 goals on the third line over the next two seasons.
Savard fulfilled his role as a solid but unspectacular defensive pivot in Buffalo for seven seasons, scoring a career-high 31 goals in 1981, but he was traded to Quebec in 1983 and finished his career with the Nordiques, retiring in 1985.
McNab immediately became a central offensive producer for the Don Cherry-coached Bruins, beginning a streak of six seasons scoring 35 or more goals. His career high was 40 goals in 1979-80, and after eight seasons with Boston, he finished his career with Vancouver and New Jersey before retiring with 363 career goals and 813 career points in 954 games.
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