1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 201 Don Edwards Hockey Card (Front)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 201 Don Edwards Hockey Card (Back)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
The Sabres’ backup goaltender to Gerry Desjardins for the 1976-77 campaign, he enjoyed a fine rookie season at Buffalo. Saw 1,480 minutes of action in 25 games during the campaign and had 2 shutouts with an impressive 2.51 goals against average. Had assist in 1975-76 playoffs.
Don’s last amateur club was the Kitchener Rangers.
En Français
Don, gardien substitut des Sabres pour la saison 1976-77, excella comme recrue. Il passa 1,480 minutes sur la patinoire en 25 matches durant la saison et il réussit 2 blanchissages; sa moyenne de “buts contre” fut de 2.51. Don contribua une assistance durant les éliminatoires de 1976.
Les Rangers de Kitchener furent son dernier club amateur.
Details
Despite playing 25 games for the Buffalo Sabres in 1976-77, Don Edwards retained his rookie status going into the 1977-78 NHL season. Edwards was no longer in a backup role, appearing in 72 games for the Sabres. He posted a 2.64 goals against average with five shutouts. Backing up Don were Bob Sauve and Gerry Desjardins.
His performance between the pipes in 1977-78 certainly got Edwards a lot of attention. He was fourth in voting for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, behind Guy Lafleur, Bryan Trottier and Darryl Sittler. In the voting for the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year, Don placed third behind Mike Bossy and Barry Beck.
Edwards would win the Vezina Trophy in 1979-80, sharing the award with Sauve. He helped the Scotty Bowman coached Sabres to a second place overall finish during the regular season and led the club to the semi-final in the playoffs before bowing out to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders.
Don played for the Kitchener Rangers in 1973-74 and 1974-75. In the first season, Kitchener finished first overall and in the second finished last. Despite the difference in standings, Edwards was named a First Team All-Star goalie in both campaigns. Seeing his success, Buffalo drafted him in the fifth round of the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft.
In all, Edwards played 459 regular season and 42 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1976-77 and 1985-86 with the Sabres, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs. He posted a career 3.32 goals against average with 16 shutouts.