Though the focus on the 1970s Buffalo Sabers lay with the French Connection line, Danny Gare showcased a few seasons that matched what any sniper was doing at the time. Gare enjoyed a pair of 50-goal seasons and was even the co-goal-scoring champion in the 1979-1980 campaign. The scrappy star’s game tailed off after being traded to Detroit, but Gare had enough impact to have his jersey retired in Buffalo. It is unlikely, though, that he can receive a similar accolade in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

One of the few stars left yet to be enshrined from the “old time hockey era”, Larry Aurie was a master of the penalty kill and was dubbed “The Little Rag Man” for his entertaining puck handling while shorthanded. Famed Red Wings owner James Norris dubbed the diminutive (he was only 5 ft 6) as the heart and soul of the Red Wings. He may have been one of the smallest NHL players, but he was also one of its toughest. Had Aurie not suffered a severe leg injury in 1937, his career totals would have likely been much higher, as he never did recover properly. His number #6 was retired by the Red Wings but has been inconspicuously omitted from the rafters in Detroit’s home arena. Perhaps, if he was posthumously honored in Toronto, he would properly be honored in Detroit as well.

Don Beaupre may have lost more games than he won, but considering he played two seasons for a horrific Ottawa Senators expansion team early in his career, perhaps we can cut him some slack on that one.