Gerry Meehan

Last updated
Gerry Meehan
5L9T9201.jpg
Meehan on the far left in 2008
Born (1946-09-03) September 3, 1946 (age 78)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Philadelphia Flyers
Buffalo Sabres
Vancouver Canucks
Atlanta Flames
Washington Capitals
Cincinnati Stingers
NHL draft 21st overall, 1963
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 19651979

Gerard Marcus Meehan (born September 3, 1946) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and the former general manager and Senior Vice President of the Buffalo Sabres.

Contents

Playing career

Meehan was born in Toronto, Ontario and raised in Newmarket, Ontario. He played minor hockey for St. Michael's College School and junior for the Toronto Marlboros. He played for the 1966–67 Marlboros that won the Memorial Cup.

Meehan was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1963 NHL amateur draft, fourth round, 21st overall. He played for the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Flames, Washington Capitals, as well as the Ontario Hockey Association's Toronto Marlboros, American Hockey League's Rochester Americans, CPHL's Tulsa Oilers, Western Hockey League's Phoenix Roadrunners, Seattle Totems, and the World Hockey Association's Cincinnati Stingers. He served as captain for both the Sabres and Capitals.

One of Meehan's career highlights as a Sabre remains a lowlight to Flyers fans. In the last game of the 1971–72 regular season, the Flyers needed a win or a tie against the Sabres to beat out the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final playoff spot. The score was tied, but with just four seconds on the clock, Meehan took a shot from the top of the blue line that somehow got by Flyers goalie Doug Favell – ending the Flyers' season. [1]

Retirement

After completing his undergraduate degree from Canisius College in Buffalo, Meehan graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 1982. He practiced sports, corporate, and immigration law with the firm Cohen, Swados, Wright, Hanifin, Bradford and Brett, including working on player contracts with Scotty Bowman, then the Sabres' coach and general manager. Meehan had joined the firm hoping to work with the Sabres.

General manager and VP

In 1984, the team made Meehan the first former Sabre to serve in a front-office position, as assistant general manager under Bowman. During the 1986–87 season, Bowman stepped down, and Meehan was promoted to general manager. With the departures of Bowman and superstar Gilbert Perreault, the Sabres finished the season in last place overall that year, but rebounded the next year as NHL's most improved team, with a record of 37–32–11 – and 21 points higher in the standings.

Meehan's years as a general manager were marked by the addition of a number of top-caliber players, including No. 1 draft pick Pierre Turgeon, Soviet defector Alex Mogilny, Dale Hawerchuk, Pat LaFontaine, and Dominik Hašek. In 1993, Meehan was named the executive vice president of sports operations, taking a more active role in the organization's business and legal affairs.

In 1996, Gerry left the Sabres organization and founded GMM Consulting Services, now Cardinal Consultants Ltd., which provides a wide variety of consulting services to sports teams, leagues, associations, and athletes.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1962–63 Neil McNeil Maroons MetJHL 7101050000
1963–64 Toronto Marlboros OHA 122350
1964–65 Toronto MarlborosOHA561430442419741112
1965–66 Toronto MarlborosOHA472526514714610169
1965–66 Rochester Americans AHL 10000
1966–67 Toronto MarlborosOHA48264268271788168
1966–67 Toronto Marlboros M-Cup 968142
1967–68 Tulsa Oilers CPHL 70314172171138110
1968–69 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 250222
1968–69 Phoenix Roadrunners WHL 1766122
1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL12033440000
1969–70 Seattle Totems WHL672330532340110
1970–71 Buffalo Sabres NHL772431558
1971–72 Buffalo SabresNHL7719274612
1972–73 Buffalo SabresNHL773129602160110
1973–74 Buffalo SabresNHL7220264617
1974–75 Buffalo SabresNHL30112
1974–75 Vancouver Canucks NHL571015254
1974–75 Atlanta Flames NHL14410140
1975–76 Atlanta FlamesNHL48720278
1975–76 Washington Capitals NHL3216153110
1976–77 Washington CapitalsNHL8028366413
1977–78 Washington CapitalsNHL7819244310
1978–79 Washington CapitalsNHL182460
1978–79 Cincinnati Stingers WHA 20000
NHL totals670180243423111100110

References

  1. "The Historic Goal That Made Meehan a "Flyer Killer"". January 2, 2012.
Preceded by Buffalo Sabres captain
197174
Succeeded by
Preceded by General Manager of the Buffalo Sabres
198693
Succeeded by