The deal went down on March 4, 1972, not even a full season after Robert has been claimed by the Penguins from, ironically enough, the Sabres. Shack would end up producing a decent 25-goal showing the next season for the Pens, but that would prove to be his last hurrah in the NHL. By 1975 he was done. Robert, meanwhile, went on to become one-third of Buffalo's legendary French Connection line that helped turn the Sabres into a contender. He scored 40 goals and totalled 83 points in his first full season as a Sabre (1972-73).He would go on to score at least 20 goals in the next eight seasons, also topping the 100-point mark in 1974-75, the year the Sabres went to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Ouch.
During his short stint with the Penguins, Robert scored seven goals, one of which came in an 8-1 rout of the Los Angeles Kings at the "Big Igloo" on October 20, 1971. This Pittsburgh Press game report describes how he scored it, and also features a beautiful shot of him putting the puck past Kings keeper Denis Dejordy.
This short piece a few months later describes the trade to Buffalo. Rene Robert was truly one who got away.
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