The NHL Alumni Association announced Saturday that Mel Bridgman has died at age 70. The former forward was the first overall pick by Philadelphia in 1975 and later became Ottawa’s first general manager.
No cause of death was provided.
“A prototypical power forward who exemplified Flyers style-hockey,” the Flyers said on social media.
Bridgman starred for the Victoria Cougars in the Western Canada Hockey League before joining the NHL. In his final junior season in 1974-75, he posted 66 goals and 91 assists in 66 regular-season games.
He also racked up 175 penalty minutes that season.
The rookie went straight to Philadelphia, which was coming off its second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Bridgman scored 23 regular-season goals and added six more during a playoff run that ended with a loss to Montreal in the Cup final.
Philadelphia named Bridgman captain during the team’s record 35-game unbeaten streak in 1979-80. That season also ended with a Cup final loss, this time to the New York Islanders.
He later wore the captain’s “C” for New Jersey as well.
Philadelphia traded Bridgman to Calgary early in the 1981-82 season. He responded with career highs of 33 goals and 54 assists.
The mustached forward also played for Detroit and Vancouver during his 14-year NHL career. He finished with 252 goals and 449 assists in 977 regular-season games, plus 1,625 penalty minutes.
Bridgman added 28 goals and 39 assists in 125 playoff games.
Front Office Career
After earning an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, Bridgman transitioned to management. The expansion Senators hired him as general manager in 1991 when he was 36 years old.
He oversaw the team through their inaugural 1992-93 season.
Bridgman later worked as a player agent after leaving the Senators organization.
“The Ottawa Senators organization sends its deepest sympathies to Mel’s loved ones at this difficult time,” the team said on social media.
