 After a successful junior career with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Laval National, Sauvé was drafted by the NHL's Buffalo Sabres in the 1st round (17th overall) in 1975 NHL Entry Draft.The World Hockey Association's Cincinnati Stingers also selected Sauvé in round 2 (16th overall) in the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft, but his ambition was to play in the NHL.The Sabres selected three goaltenders in the 1975 draft, with Sauvé and Don Edwards being the most notable.