Mel Bridgman obit

Former NHLer, Ottawa Senators GM Mel Bridgman dead at 70

 

He was not on the list.

Former NHLer and Ottawa Senators general manager Mel Bridgman has died. He was 70.

The NHL Alumni Association announced his death on Saturday. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Bridgman was the first overall pick in the 1975 NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, where he spent his first six-plus seasons.

He was traded to the Calgary Flames in 1981-82 and finished that season with a career-best 33 goals and 54 assists across 72 games. He went to the New Jersey Devils in 1983-84 and played three-plus years before getting traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1986-87. Bridgman played his final season for the Vancouver Canucks in 1988-89.

The Trenton, Ont., native finished his career with 701 points (252 goals, 449 assists) across 977 regular-season games.

In 1991, he was named the first general manager of the expansion Senators — a post he held until 1993.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2025.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

                        Regular season                       Playoffs

Season Team   League GP       G         A         Pts       PIM     GP       G         A         Pts       PIM

1971–72          Victoria Racquet Club Minor-BC        —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —            —        —

1971–72          Victoria Cougars         WCHL 4          0          0          0          0          —        —        —        —            —

1972–73          Nanaimo Clippers       BCHL 49        37        50        87        31        —        —        —        —            —

1972–73          Victoria Cougars         WCHL 4          1          1          2          0          —        —        —        —            —

1973–74          Victoria Cougars         WCHL 62        26        39        65        149      —        —        —        —            —

1974–75          Victoria Cougars         WCHL 66        66        91        157      175      12        12        6          18            34

1975–76          Philadelphia Flyers     NHL    80        23        27        50        86        16        6          8          14            31

1976–77          Philadelphia Flyers     NHL    70        19        38        57        120      7          1          0          1            8

1977–78          Philadelphia Flyers     NHL    76        16        32        48        203      12        1          7          8            36

1978–79          Philadelphia Flyers     NHL    76        24        35        59        184      8          1          2          3            17

1979–80          Philadelphia Flyers     NHL    74        16        31        47        136      19        2          9          11            70

1980–81          Philadelphia Flyers     NHL    77        14        37        51        195      12        2          4          6            39

1981–82          Philadelphia Flyers     NHL    9          7          5          12        47        —        —        —        —            —

1981–82          Calgary Flames           NHL    63        26        49        75        94        3          2          0          2            14

1982–83          Calgary Flames           NHL    79        19        31        50        103      9          3          4          7            33

1983–84          New Jersey Devils      NHL    79        23        38        61        121      —        —        —        —            —

1984–85          New Jersey Devils      NHL    80        22        39        61        105      —        —        —        —            —

1985–86          New Jersey Devils      NHL    78        23        40        63        80        —        —        —        —            —

1986–87          New Jersey Devils      NHL    51        8          31        39        80        —        —        —        —            —

1986–87          Detroit Red Wings      NHL    13        2          2          4          19        16        5          2          7            28

1987–88          Adirondack Red Wings           AHL    2          1          2          3          0          —        —        —            —        —

1987–88          Detroit Red Wings      NHL    57        6          11        17        42        16        4          1          5            12

1988–89          Vancouver Canucks    NHL    15        4          3          7          10        7          1          2          3            10

NHL totals       977      252      449      701      1,625   125      28        39        67        298

 

Born    April 28, 1955

Trenton, Ontario, Canada

Died    November 2025 (aged 70)

Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)

Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)

Position           Centre

Shot     Left

Played for        Philadelphia Flyers

Calgary Flames

New Jersey Devils

Detroit Red Wings

Vancouver Canucks

National team  Canada

NHL draft        1st overall, 1975

Philadelphia Flyers

WHA draft       4th overall, 1975

Denver Spurs

Playing career 1975–1989