{"id":2634,"date":"2026-06-06T21:34:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T21:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=2634"},"modified":"2026-06-06T21:34:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T21:34:25","slug":"gerry-meehan-one-of-the-first-buffalo-sabres-players-and-an-influential-gm-dies-at-79","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=2634","title":{"rendered":"Gerry Meehan, one of the first Buffalo Sabres players and an influential GM, dies at 79"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Gerry Meehan, one of the Buffalo Sabres\u2019 first players who went on to an influential role as the team\u2019s general manager, has died. He was 79.<\/p>\n

Read more San\u00e9, Havertz score as Germany beats US 2-1, heads to World Cup with 9-game winning streak<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sabres announced Meehan\u2019s death on Saturday after being informed by a member of his family. The team said he died Friday. The cause of death and where Meehan died were not immediately available.<\/p>\n

Meehan was from Toronto but essentially adopted Buffalo as his hometown as a player and eventual executive. As GM, he was responsible for acquiring eventual hall of famers Dominik Hasek, Pat LaFontaine, Alexander Mogilny and Dale Hawerchuk spanning the late 1980s and early 1990s.<\/p>\n

His introduction to Buffalo came after splitting his rookie NHL season between Toronto and Philadelphia in being selected by the Sabres in the 1970 expansion draft.<\/p>\n

The center went on to set up the franchise\u2019s first goal in a two-assist outing in Buffalo\u2019s first game. Meehan later became the team\u2019s captain before being traded to Vancouver in October 1974.<\/p>\n

Upon completing his 10-year NHL career and two games with Cincinnati of the World Hockey Association in 1978-79, Meehan returned to Buffalo to earn a law degree before joining the Sabres\u2019 front office in 1984 under general manager Scotty Bowman.<\/p>\n

In replacing Bowman as GM during the 1986-87 season, Meehan oversaw numerous franchise-changing moves, including Mogilny\u2019s defection from the Soviet Union in 1989. Meehan and Sabres player development director Don Luce traveled to Sweden, where Mogilny was competing in a tournament, and covertly ushered him back to North America.<\/p>\n

Mogilny referred to Meehan as \u201cmy guiding light when I came into the NHL\u201d during his induction speech last year.<\/p>\n

Read more Outer Banks crews warn about digging holes in beach; NC coastal team simulates sand rescue<\/a><\/p>\n

In a statement released by the league, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman referred to Meehan as a \u201cpillar of the franchise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs shrewd and successful as he was on the ice and in the front office, Meehan had a significant impact on countless players and executives in recent years as a generous mentor and advisor,\u201d Bettman added.<\/p>\n

With Mogilny, Meehan rebuilt the Sabres by acquiring Hawerchuk in a trade with Winnipeg in 1990. A year later, Buffalo sent Pierre Turgeon to the New York Islanders to acquire LaFontaine, who would post a 148-point season playing alongside 76 goal-scorer Mogilny in 1992-93.<\/p>\n

Meehan then oversaw what is considered among the NHL\u2019s most one-sided trades, acquiring Hasek from Chicago in 1992. Buffalo gave up Stephane Beauregard and a fourth-round draft pick to land a player who would go on to become a two-time Hart Trophy-winner as NHL MVP and win six Vezina Trophy\u2019s as the league\u2019s top goalie.<\/p>\n

Meehan\u2019s tenure as GM ended following the 1995-96 season and he remained an active member of the Sabres Alumni Association.<\/p>\n

As a player, he had 180 goals and 423 points in 670 career games, rounded out by stops in Washington and with the Atlanta Flames.<\/p>\n

He is survived by his wife, Mirella, their children Dan, Adam and Kate, and grandchildren Christian, Alexander, Nathan and Juniper. Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.<\/p>\n

Read more Remaining very hot and dry through weekend\u00a0in central NC<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP NHL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/stanley-cup and https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nhl<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BUFFALO, N.Y. 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