Don Luce enters his 14th season as the Buffalo Sabres Director of Player Personnel, where he oversees the team's 11-person scouting staff. Together they scout the NHL, IHL, AHL, and ECHL, as well as the Canadian junior leagues, American high schools and colleges, and European leagues.
The work of Don and his staff continues to produce outstanding results. This past season The Hockey News named Rochester goaltender Mika Noronen (1997, 1st round) as its Minor Pro Prospect of the Year after the 21-year old AHL rookie posted a 2.18 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Remarkably, it was the second straight season that a Sabres prospect has received that honor. Goaltender Martin Biron (1995, 1st round) was the Minor Pro Prospect of the Year for 1999. Other success stories in the Sabres system include: Maxim Afinogenov (1997, 3rd round) totaled 16 goals in 65 games in his rookie season with the Sabres; defenseman Dmitri Kalinin (1998, 1st round) was named to the AHL all-rookie team after ending his first year with an impressive +15; Norm Milley (1998, 2nd round) finished as the second-leading scorer in the OHL (52-60-112), while fellow prospect Mike Zigomanis (1999, 2nd round) finished fifth in the OHL scoring race (40-54-94).
Don first joined the Sabres’ front office staff in 1984 when he worked for a year on special assignments and as an assistant coach. He spent the 1985-86 season as an American scout, before taking on his current role in 1987. One of his major accomplishments was his instrumental role in bringing Alexander Mogilny to America in 1989.
A member of the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame, Luce originally became a Sabre as part of a trade with Detroit for Joe Daley in 1971. He spent almost 10 full seasons of his NHL career with Buffalo and ranked with Craig Ramsay as two of the league's best penalty-killers throughout the 1970's.
In 1974-75, Don enjoyed arguably his finest season helping the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Finals and establishing two team records which still stand to this day: eight short-handed goals in one season and an incredible +61 plus/minus ranking. He capped the year by being named the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy which is given to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
After a trade to Los Angeles in 1981, Luce went on to play one more season with Toronto before retiring. He appeared in a total of 894 NHL games, registering 225 goals, 329 assists, 554 points, and 364 PIM. Don still ranks in the top 10 with Buffalo in eight career leaders categories.
As a result of his many accomplishments on and off the ice, Don was honored with induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in September 1997.
