Bob Sauvé

Lore & Background

Sauvé began his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres after being drafted in the first round in 1975. He played only four games for the Sabres in 1976–77, spending most of that season with the AHL's Rhode Island Reds. The following season he split time between the Hershey Bears and the Sabres as backup to Don Edwards. In 1978–79, after suffering a broken finger and starting in Hershey, he was called up when Edwards sprained an ankle and remained in the NHL. The goaltending duo of Sauvé and Edwards had an immediate impact, and Sauvé led the league in goals against average in 1979–80, earning a share of the Vezina Trophy. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in December 1981 but re-signed with Buffalo as a free agent in June 1982 after Edwards was traded. In 1983–84, Sauvé was joined by young goaltender Tom Barrasso, and the pair shared the William M. Jennings Trophy in 1984–85 for fewest goals allowed. Sauvé was later traded to the Chicago Black Hawks for a third-round pick in the 1986 draft, spent two seasons there, then signed with the New Jersey Devils as a free agent in July 1987. He retired in 1989 due to chronic back problems.

Reader's Guide

Bob Sauvé's significance lies in his role as part of two notable goaltending tandems that won major NHL trophies. Sharing the Vezina Trophy with Don Edwards in 1980 recognized their collective performance, as Sauvé led the league in goals against average that season. Later, sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy with Tom Barrasso in 1985 highlighted his continued effectiveness as a goaltender who contributed to the fewest goals allowed in the league. After retiring, Sauvé remained active in hockey as president of the New Jersey Devils' alumni association, a goalie coach, and a player agent, representing several prominent NHL players including Patrick Roy, Vincent Lecavalier, and Jocelyn Thibault. His family also had NHL connections: his younger brother Jean-François Sauvé played in the NHL and was briefly his teammate in Buffalo, and his son Philippe Sauvé became a professional goaltender in the NHL and Europe.

Did You Know?

• Sauvé was drafted by both the NHL's Buffalo Sabres (first round, 17th overall) and the WHA's Cincinnati Stingers (second round, 16th overall) in 1975.
• After retiring, Sauvé became a player agent whose clients included Patrick Roy, Vincent Lecavalier, and Jocelyn Thibault.
• His younger brother Jean-François Sauvé and his son Philippe Sauvé both played in the NHL.