Mel Bridgman

Mel Bridgman
Born	(1955-04-28) April 28, 1955 Trenton, Ontario, Canada
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

Melvin John Bridgman (born April 28, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1975–76 until 1988–89. He featured in two Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers (1976, 1980). Bridgman was born in Trenton, Ontario, but grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, before moving to Victoria, British Columbia.

After his playing career, he earned his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1992, Bridgman was the first general manager of the modern-day Ottawa Senators of the NHL.

Playing career

Bridgman was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. He played 977 career NHL games, scoring 252 goals and 449 assists for 701 points, as well as adding 1625 penalty minutes. His best offensive season was the 1981–82 season, when he set career highs with 33 goals, 54 assists, and 87 points. Throughout his career Bridgman was known as a consistent offensive contributor, a smart defensive centre, and a gritty, hard-nosed, power forward who would check and fight regularly.

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

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1975	Canada	WJC		5	1	4	5	9

Awards

• Bob Brownridge Memorial Trophy (WCHL leading scorer) - 1975
• WCHL All-Star Team – 1975

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Meltzer, Bill Flyers Heroes of the Past: Mel Bridgman at philadelphiaflyers.com