Daring Danny Gare

One of Buffalo’s more prolific goal scorers in Sabres history is British Columbia native Daniel Mirl Gare who at 5’ 9” and approximately 180 lbs soaking wet was also one of the Sabres toughest and most fearless players.

While playing for the WCHL Calgary Centennials, the scoring and fighting Mr. Gare amassed 127 points in 65 games along with a whopping 238 PIM in his final season in major juniors.

Drafted by Buffalo and Winnipeg in 1974 Mr. Gare was selected in the first round 11^th overall in the World Hockey Association’s “Secret Amateur Draft“. Fortunately for Buffalo, Mr. Gare was selected in the public NHL Amateur Draft in the second round 29^th overall.

In his rookie season, Mr. Gare scored 31 goals and 31 assists and contributed seven goals and six assists in 17 playoff games as Buffalo marched to the Cup Finals. Watching the 1975 Cup Finals was exhilarating and to witness  Mr. Gare holding his own fighting against the bigger broad street bullies main goon dave schultz was incredible.  

A dramatic goal scorer Mr. Gare scored on his first shot on his first shift of his first game only 18 seconds into the first game of the 1974-75 Season. The following year Mr. Gare scored 50 goals but not until he scored a Hat Trick in the final game of the 1975-76 Season along with earning 129 PIM and again over a plus 30 rating for the year.

Mr. Gare finished third in the Calder Memorial Trophy voting and that season’s winner had already played 23 games the season prior to his “rookie” season. You can observe how close the top three rookies were in scoring but what stands out like an empty net is how Mr. Gare garnished a plus 39 rating compared to single digit plus earners of that season.

Although a back injury limited Mr. Gare to 35 games and 26 points in his third season, after recovering his following seasons were some of the best statistically of his career.

Then after scoring 56 goals and 46 goals for two seasons Mr. Gare’s last Sabres season in 1981-82 lasted 22 games and he scored 21 points before arguably the worst general manager in Buffalo history sucker punched the fan base by trading away Mr. Gare and beloved Mr. Schoenfeld.

The NHL ALL-STAR Game in 1979-80 featured Mr. Gare along with teammates Mr. Schoenfeld and Mr. Edwards.

Mr. Gare was a fighting 20 goal scorer for Detroit for approximately four and half seasons before playing his last 18 NHL games for Edmonton in 1986-87.

Suspended three times in his career Mr. Gare was suspended once for the first game of 1977-78 season because he left the bench (penalty box) to join a brawl in a preseason contest versus Boston.

Mr Gare was an assistant coach for Tampa Bay for two seasons in the early 1990s before becoming a color analyst for both Buffalo and Tampa Bay over the seasons.