Former Buffalo Sabres left winger and general manager Gerry Meehan of Toronto, Ontario, passed away on Friday at the age of 79 according to Jourdon LaBarber of nhl.com. Meehan played five seasons with the Sabres fron 1970 to 1974. He was also the Sabres captain from 1971 to 1974, and their general manager from 1986 to 1993.
In fact, Meehan spent five additional seasons with the Sabres. He was their assistant general manager from 1984 to 1986, and their executive vice president of hockey operations from 1993 to 1996.
As a player, Meehan played 670 games in the National Hockey League from 1968 to 1979. He also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers from 1968 to 1969, the Vancouver Canucks and Atlanta Flames from 1974 to 1975, the Flames and the Washington Capitals from 1975 to 1976, and the Capitals for three more seasons from 1976 to 1979.
Meehan had 180 goals and 243 assists for 423 points in 670 games. He was a -113 with 111 penalty minutes, 103 power-play points, two shorthanded points, 23 game-winning goals, three hat tricks and 1450 shots on goal.
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Meehan had one assist for one point in 10 games. He was a -5 with 19 shots on goal. The playoff point came on April 8, 1973 in a 5-1 Sabres win over the Montreal Canadiens. Meehan set up defenseman Jim Schoenfeld of Galt, Ontario at 11:13 of the second period to tie the game at one. Jim Lorentz of Waterloo, Ontario had the other assist in an all-Canadian goal.
