Former NHL player and former Ottawa Senators general manager Mel Bridgman has passed away at the age of 70. The NHL Alumni Association confirmed his death on Saturday without disclosing the cause.
Bridgman was the top pick in the 1975 NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and played over six seasons with the team. He was later traded to the Calgary Flames for the 1981-82 season, during which he achieved a career-high 33 goals and 54 assists in 72 games. Following his time with the Flames, Bridgman joined the New Jersey Devils in 1983-84 and then moved to the Detroit Red Wings in 1986-87. His final season was with the Vancouver Canucks in 1988-89.
A native of Trenton, Ontario, Bridgman concluded his career with 701 points, including 252 goals and 449 assists, in 977 regular-season games. In 1991, he became the inaugural general manager of the Ottawa Senators, a role he held until 1993.