Career Vitals

Career NHL Statistics

Teams: Toronto, Philadelphia, Buffalo,
Vancouver, Atlanta, Washington
Years: 1968-1978. Playoffs: 1969-1972

Career Highlights

Won Memorial Cup with the Toronto Marlboros in 1964 and 1967. ... Named to OHA Junior A All-Star First Team in 1966-67. ... Won CHL Adams Cup with Tulsa Oilers in 1968. ... Played in first game in Buffalo Sabres history on Oct. 10, 1970, at Pittsburgh and registered first assist in Sabres history with lone assist on goal by Jim Watson for a 1-0 lead at 5:01 of the second period. Meehan also took the first minor penalty in Sabres history at 7:54 of the first. ... Scored first NHL goal in 43rd NHL game by beating Les Binkley in Buffalo's Oct. 18, 1970, game vs. Pittsburgh. ... Earned votes in Hart Trophy race for 1970-71 after scoring 24 goals and 55 points. ... Served as Buffalo captain for three seasons from November 1971 to Oct. 14, 1974. ...Beat Bernie Parent from 80 feet out for winning goal with only four seconds remaining in Buffalo's 1971-72 regular-season finale vs. Philadelphia on April 2, 1972. The goal prevented the Flyers from reaching the playoffs. ... Left Buffalo ranked third on team's career scoring list and was the last of the team's 1970 Expansion Draft picks still playing with Sabres. ... Named Washington MVP for 1976-77 season. ... Became first Washington Capitals player to win the official NHL Player of the Week honors by scoring two goals and five assists over week ending Jan. 28, 1977. ... Scored a career-high 64 points in 1976-77, including 43 points over the season's final 40 games. ... Became first player in Washington history to score 100 points in a Capitals uniform when he did it on Nov. 9, 1977, with power-play goal at Detroit.

Transaction History

March 2, 1969 -- Traded by Toronto with Mike Byers and Bill Sutherland to Philadelphia in exchange for Brit Selby and Forbes Kennedy. June 10, 1970 -- Claimed from Philadelphia by Buffalo in 1970 NHL Expansion Draft. Oct. 14, 1974 -- Traded by Buffalo with Mike Robitaille to Vancouver in exchange for Jocelyn Guevremont and Bryan McSheffrey. March 9, 1975 -- Traded by Vancouver to Atlanta in exchange for Bob Murray. Jan. 22, 1976 -- Traded by Atlanta with Jean Lemieux and Buffalo's 1976 first-round pick (previously obtained from Sabres; Washington used pick to draft Greg Carroll) to Washington in exchange for Bill Clement. Dec. 4, 1978 -- Pro hockey rights sold by Washington to Cincinnati (WHA).

Significant Injuries

Missed part of 1973-74 season with left knee injury, suffered during Buffalo's Dec. 27 game vs. Detroit. He did not return to action until Buffalo's Jan. 10, 1974, game vs. N.Y. Rangers. ... Missed part of 1978-79 WHA season with bruised shoulder, an injury suffered during his first WHA shift in Cincinnati's Dec. 12, 1978, game vs. Edmonton. He returned to play only one more game before retiring as a player.

Meehan's NHL Exit

Meehan's career as an NHL player came to a sudden end in early December 1978, when his pro hockey rights were sold by Washington to Cincinnati (WHA). Upset by the move, Meehan initially refused to report to Cincinnati and took his family back to their home in Buffalo. After a few days, Meehan decided to honor his contract and accept the deal rather than retire. He went to Cincinnati, where he was promptly injured on his first shift and ended up playing a total of only two WHA games before opting to retire in 1979.

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Gerard Marcus Meehan

Other Post-Draft Teams: Toronto (OHA); Rochester (AHL); Tulsa (CHL); Phoenix (WHL); Seattle (WHL); Cincinnati (WHA).

Education: Attended University of Toronto and Canisius College during playing days. ... Returned to Canisius after retirement in 1979 to complete his bachelor's degree. ... Received law degree from University of Buffalo in 1982.

Career Beyond Hockey: Took job with Buffalo law firm of Cohen, Swados, Wright, Hanifin, Bradford and Brett upon his graduation from law school in 1982 and admittance to the New York State bar in 1983. Some of the work he did there involved writing player contracts on behalf of the Sabres. ... Admitted to Ontario bar in 1998. ... Served as adjunct professor of Sports Law at Buffalo's Canisius College from 1995 to 1997. ... Went into sports management consulting in 1997, founding Cardinal Sports Management Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and serving as its chairman of the board. The company helped market the Pointstreak.com real-time scoring software to hockey teams throughout the U.S. ... Also continued to practice law at the firm of Hiscock and Barclay, LLP, in Richmond Hill.

Non-Playing Career

FRONT OFFICE:
Meehan was named by Buffalo Sabres general manager Scotty Bowman as Buffalo's assistant general manager in July 1984, becoming the first former Sabres player to work in Buffalo's front office. He remained in that position until Dec. 22, 1986. ... Named Buffalo general manager on Dec. 22, 1986, added title of team Vice-President during 1991-92 season and remained in position until July 30, 1993. ... Named Buffalo Executive Vice-President of Sports Operations on July 30, 1993, and held that position through the 1995 season.

Miscellaneous:

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