Gerry Meehan, former Buffalo Sabres captain and general manager, passed away at the age of 79 on June 5. The news was broken a day later by the Sabres, who were informed by a family member.

Brian Burke, executive director of the Professional Women's Hockey League Players Association, took to X to voice his admiration for Meehan.

“Gerry Meehan‘s passing is not receiving appropriate notice. NHL player, captain, General Manager, attorney, and friend. Universally liked and respected, big void. RIP, Gerry,” he wrote on X.

While there might not be enough coverage on Meehan's passing, it won’t diminish his impact on the NHL and hockey as a whole.

Meehan’s NHL journey began with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1969 before he joined the Philadelphia Flyers the same season. His career took off after he joined the Sabres in the 1970 expansion draft, cementing a partnership for the rest of his life.

Meehan provided the first assist in the history of Buffalo and went on to captain them next season in 1971. He ended up staying with the Sabres until October 1974, registering 208 points (94G/114A) in 306 regular-season appearances.

The left winger also played in six games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, registering a point.

Meehan also played for the Vancouver Canucks, the Atlanta Flames, and the Washington Capitals in the NHL, scoring 423 points (180G/243A) in 670 games across 10 seasons.

His professional career came to a close after playing two games with the Cincinnati Stingers in the World Hockey Association in the 1978-79 season.

Gerry Meehan Joined Buffalo Sabres’ Front Office in 1984

​After earning a law degree post-retirement, Meehan returned to Buffalo and joined the front office in 1984. He was part of general manager Scotty Bowman’s staff for a couple of seasons before taking over in 1986.

As the fourth ever GM in the history of the Sabres, Meehan signed the likes of Pat LaFontaine, Dominik Hasek, Dale Hawerchuk, and Alexander Mogilny, who defected from the Soviet Union.

With the future Hall of Famers joining the squad, the Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for eight consecutive seasons from 1988 to 1995.

After leaving the Sabres in 1996, he remained appreciative of their impact on his career and life. Meehan was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

He is survived by his wife, Mirella, alongside their kids Kate, Dan, and Adam; and their grandkids Alexander, Juniper, Christian, and Nathan.

What do you make of the legacy of Gerry Meehan for the Buffalo Sabres and in the NHL? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Sijo Paul