Does Gilbert Perreault Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

The most iconic Sabre in history (except for Hasek, perhaps), Perreault never won a Cup or led the league in any offensive category.

But his playoff numbers are outstanding, as are his international best-on-best numbers. And, to this day, there are things he did in the NHL that only a few other select players have ever done.

So, does Gilbert Perreault belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Or, more accurately, where does Perreault rank among the greatest centres All Time?

Gilbert Perreault’s career:

• NHL: 1970-87; 17 seasons, 16 qualify
• Totals:
  • 512G (12th All Time at his retirement),
  • 814A (8th at his retirement) for
  • 1326P (7th at his retirement),
  • +41 in
  • 1191 Games (22nd at his retirement);
  • 113.3 PS (22nd at his retirement);
  • At his retirement, Perreault was 14th All Time in Offensive Point Shares
• Per Game: At his retirement, Perreault was
  • 22nd All Time in APG
  • 19th All Time in PPG
• Draft: Drafted first overall in 1970, Perreault is
  • 1st in Goals
  • 1st in Assists (by over 175)
  • 1st in Points (by over 200)
  • 8th in Plus/Minus
  • 4th in Point Shares (1st Skater)
  • 1st in Games
• Era: Of the 15 skaters to play in at least 984 Games (12 modern seasons) between 1970 and 1987, Perreault is
  • 2nd in Goals
  • 4th in GPG
  • 3rd in Assists
  • 4th in APG
  • 2nd in Points
  • 2nd in PPG
  • 11th in Plus/Minus
  • 2nd in Offensive Point Shares
  • 9th in Defensive Point Shares (4th Forward)
  • 5th in Point Shares (2nd Forward)
  • 2nd in Games
• 82-game average: 35G, 56A for 91P, +3
• 3-year peak (1974-77): 3-year peak of 43G, 64A for 107P, +15
• No possession stats
• Playoff:
  • 33G,
  • 70A (16th All Time at his retirement) for
  • 103P,
  • -21 in
  • 90 Games
  • Per Game:
    • 8th All Time in playoff APG (5th at his retirement)
    • 10th All Time in playoff PPG
  • Era: Of the 73 skaters to play in at least 82 playoff games between 1970 and 1987, Perreault is
    • 28th in playoffs Goals
    • 18th in playoff GPG
    • 10th in playoff Assists
    • 2nd in playoff APG
    • 16th in playoff Points
    • 6th in playoff PPG
    • 72nd (2nd last) in playoff Plus/Minus
    • 53rd in Games
• Adjusted for era:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 434G,
    • 700A for
    • 1134P
    • 82-game average: 30G, 48A for 78P (-13P per 82 games)
    • Per Game: isn’t on the leader-boards
  • VsX:
    • 470G
    • 837A 
    • 1145P
    • Per Game: not on any leader-boards
• Trades: never traded.

Gilbert Perreault’s Accomplishments:

• Top 5 in Hart voting once
• Calder (‘71)
• Byng (‘73)
• Top Player:
  • Top 5 Offensive Player (by OPS) once (‘76)
  • Top 10 six times (‘71, ‘75, ‘77, ‘78, ‘80)
• All Star:
  • 2nd Team All Star twice
  • 6 All Star Game appearances
• Goals:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 10 in Goals four times
  • GPG leader-boards:
    • Top 10 in GPG three times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 40 goals three times
    • 35 goals six times (1 of only 21 players ever at his retirement)
    • 30 goals ten times (1 of only 9 players ever at his retirement)
    • 25 goals thirteen times (1 of only 24 players ever, 8 at his retirement)
    • 20 goals fifteen times (1 of only 7 players ever at his retirement)
• Assists:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Assists three times
    • Top 10 five times
  • APG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in APG once
    • Top 10 five times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 60 assists three times (1 of only 21 players ever at his retirement)
    • 50 assists eight ties (1 of only 8 players ever at his retirement)
    • 40 assists twelve times (1 of only 7 players ever at his retirement)
• Points:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Points three times
    • Top 10 five times
  • PPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in PPG once
    • Top 10 four times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 110 points once
    • 100 points twice
    • 90 points five times (1 of only 18 players ever at his retirement)
    • 80 points seven times (1 of only 25 players ever, 7 at his retirement)
    • 70 points thirteen times (1 of only 13 players ever, 5 at his retirement)
    • 60 points fourteen times (1 of only 21 players ever, 6 at his retirement)
    • 50 points sixteen times (1 of only 23 players ever, 8 at his retirement)
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: 124th All Time
    • Assists: 55th All Time
    • Points: 63rd All Time
  • Best 10 Seasons:
    • Goals: 115th All Time
    • Assists: 46th All Time
    • Points: 49th All Time
• Playoffs:
  • Led 6 playoff series in Points (t-16th All Time)
  • Led 30% of his career playoff series in Points (t-13th All Time)
  • Top 3 in Points in 55% of his career playoff series (15th All Time)

Gilbert Perreault’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Best Player (by 9 points) on one Final Four (‘80 Sabres)
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Runner up (‘75 Sabres)
• Canada (World) Cup:
  • Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Champion (‘76 Canada)
  • Tournament All Star (missed 3 games due to injury but scored over 2PPG) on one Runner Up (‘81 Canada)
• Summit Series:
  • Left Champion mid series