Taro Tsujimoto
Fictitious Japanese 1974 NHL draft pick
Fictitious Japanese 1974 NHL draft pick
Taro Tsujimoto is a fictitious Japanese ice hockey player who was selected in the 1974 NHL amateur draft in the 11th round, 183rd overall, by the Buffalo Sabres. The decision to draft a non-existent player was made by Sabres general manager Punch Imlach, who was frustrated by the absurd length of the draft, and in the late rounds decided to have fun and draft someone unusual. Together with Sabres director of communications Paul Wieland, they created Taro Tsujimoto, a 20-year-old Japanese forward who played for the fictional Tokyo Katanas of the Japan Ice Hockey League. The name was inspired by Japanese American Joshua Tsujimoto, who owned a grocery store Wieland would regularly drive by. Taro Tsujimoto quickly became an inside joke for Sabres fans, and is a beloved figure in team history.
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