Former NHL player, executive Gerry Meehan passes away at 79
Gerry Meehan, who most notably played with and managed the Buffalo Sabres during his decades-long career in the hockey world, died Friday at age 79.
The Sabres announced the news of his death in a social media post on Saturday morning, along with a career retrospective posted on their official website.
A left wing during his playing days, Meehan appeared in 670 NHL games over parts of 10 seasons with the Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Flames, and Washington Capitals. He served as the Sabres’ captain from 1971 to 1974.
Upon his retirement, Meehan earned a law degree from the University of Buffalo and later rejoined the Sabres organization in 1984 as an assistant general manager; three years later, he succeeded Scotty Bowman as the club’s GM.
We are sad to announce the passing of former Sabres captain and general manager Gerry Meehan. The thoughts of the entire Sabres community are with his friends and family. 💙 As we remember Gerry and all he did for our organization, read more on his Sabres legacy → Show more
Originally drafted by the Maple Leafs with the No. 21 overall pick in the 1963 NHL Amateur Draft, Meehan only emerged as an NHL regular after being claimed by the Sabres in the 1970 Expansion Draft. Over parts of five seasons with the Sabres, the 6’2″ forward collected 94 goals and 208 points.
After leaving the Sabres early in the 1974-75 season, Meehan found his greatest success with another expansion franchise, the Capitals, with whom he scored a career-high 64 points in 80 games in 1976-77. He retired after the 1978-79 season.
Meehan spent his entire managerial career with the Sabres, serving as GM from 1986 to 1993 and executive vice president from 1991 to 1996. During his tenure as GM, he acquired future Hall of Famers Dominik Hasek, Pat LaFontaine, and Dale Hawerchuk in trades, while also leading the efforts to help then-prospect Alexander Mogilny defect from the Soviet Union.
An active member of the Sabres Alumni Association following his careers as a player and executive, Meehan was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2023. He is survived by his wife, Mirella, as well as their three children and four grandchildren.