Richard Martin

Richard Lionel Martin (July 26, 1951 – March 13, 2011) was a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played in the NHL for 11 seasons between 1971 and 1982. A left wing, Martin spent the bulk of his career with the Buffalo Sabres before finishing with the Los Angeles Kings.

Drafted fifth overall by the Sabres in the 1971 NHL amateur draft, Martin arrived after a junior career with the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association. In Buffalo he became best known as part of the French Connection line alongside Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert, and he featured in the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals with the Sabres.

Over 685 career NHL games, Martin scored 384 goals and 317 assists for 701 points. His finest season came in 1974–75, when he recorded 52 goals and 95 points in just 68 games. He scored at least 44 goals five times. Martin was selected to seven consecutive All-Star Games from 1971–72 through 1977–78, earning official NHL All-Star first-team left wing honors in 1973–74 and 1974–75 and second-team selection in 1975–76 and 1976–77.

Martin holds Buffalo Sabres franchise career records for hat tricks, four-goal games, and 40-goal seasons. He died on March 13, 2011.