Mel Bridgman

John Melvin " Mel" Bridgman ( born April 28, 1955 in Trenton, Ontario ) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player ( center ), who in 1975 to 1989 for the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks the National Hockey League played.

Career

As a junior he played with the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League. As top scorer with 157 points, but also with 175 penalty minutes, he drew attention to himself. This convinced the Philadelphia Flyers, who always sought robust player and chose him in the NHL Amateur Draft in 1975 with the top pick. The World Hockey Association had a crush on him. The Denver Spurs selected him in the WHA Amateur Draft in 1975 in the first round as the fourth overall.

Equal to the 1975/76 season he was in the squad of the reigning Stanley Cup winner in a row with Terry Crisp. The team again reached the final series, but it lost to the Montreal Canadiens. Until the 1981/82 season he remained with the Flyers. Even if he could not meet the high expectations, he was a constant player who in 1979 took over the office of the team captain Bobby Clarke.

On November 11, 1981, he was delivered to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Brad Marsh. His twelve points from Philadelphia, he added 75 points added in Calgary and played as 87 points his most successful season. After another good year in Calgary, he joined the 1983/84 season to the New Jersey Devils. Of the Devils Steve Tambellini and Joel Quenneville came to the Flames. In his first three years in New Jersey, he scored over 20 goals each, and over 60 points. Even with the Devils, he was team captain.

In March 1987, Jacques Demers tried his Detroit Red Wings get ready for the playoffs and Bridgman fit well into his concept. The Wings reached with him twice in a row the semifinals. After a trip to Switzerland for HC Sierre, he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks.

After the 1989/90 season, he ended his active career. For the 1992/93 season he returned as general manager of the newly formed teams in the Ottawa Senators back in the NHL.

NHL stats

Sporting successes

Personal Awards

  • WCJHL First All -Star Team: 1975
  • Brownridge Trophy: 1975
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