Rick Martin, Part of Famed N.H.L. Line, Dies at 59 After Car Accident (Published 2011)

BUFFALO — Rick Martin, a member of the Buffalo Sabres’ celebrated French Connection, one of the most prolific scoring lines in the National Hockey League in the 1970s, died after he was involved in a car accident on Sunday near his home in Akron, N.Y. He was 59.

The state police said Martin might have had a heart attack shortly before he veered off the road and crashed into a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville, N.Y.

Martin played left wing for the Sabres, mostly with the Hall of Fame center Gilbert Perreault and right wing Rene Robert. United in 1972, all three were from Quebec, and they were soon being called the French Connection, after the 1971 film about a drug-smuggling ring starring Gene Hackman.

Martin, who was left-handed, possessed a powerful and accurate slap shot and wrist shot. He is the Sabres’ career leader in hat tricks, scoring three or more goals in a game 21 times.

“He hit the blue line, he was going to find a way to put it in the net,” said Mike Robitaille, a Sabres broadcaster and former teammate who as a defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks played against Martin.

“Scoring was everything to him,” Robitaille said.

Buffalo selected Martin fifth over all in the 1971 amateur draft. He made an instant impact with an N.H.L. rookie-record 44 goals in the 1971-72 season. Playing with Perreault and Robert, Martin became one of the most potent scorers in hockey. He scored 52 goals in consecutive seasons beginning in 1973-74. In 1975, the French Connection led the Sabres to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Martin would not reach the finals again. In 1981, the Sabres traded him to the Los Angeles Kings. He played only four games over parts of two seasons with Los Angeles before retiring because of a knee injury.

In 685 games, Martin scored 384 goals and 701 points. He played in seven All-Star games. In 1995, the Sabres retired his No. 7; it joined those of his linemates Robert (14) and Perreault (11).

Martin reunited with the French Connection on the ice before a game at HSBC Arena here on Feb. 23 for a ceremony introducing the new Sabres owner, Terry Pegula, to Buffalo fans.

Richard Lionel Martin was born July 26, 1951, in Verdun, Quebec. He is survived by his wife, Mikey, and his sons, Corey, Josh and Erick.