Mel Bridgman

Did You Know?

• Bridgman's father Richard was a meteorologist and a fan of the Montreal Canadiens.
• One of his sons was bullied at school the day after Bridgman was fired as Senators GM.
• He coached his sons' hockey teams after leaving professional hockey.

Playing career

The Philadelphia Flyers made Mel Bridgman the first pick of the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. Over 977 games, he put up 252 goals and 449 assists for 701 points, plus 1,625 penalty minutes. His top offensive year was 1981–82, when he scored 33 goals and 54 assists for 87 points. Known for steady scoring, smart defense, and a tough, physical style, Bridgman regularly threw checks and dropped the gloves.

Post-playing career

After retiring, Bridgman earned a master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. He became general manager of the expansion Ottawa Senators later that year, ahead of the team's 1992 NHL entry. His tenure lasted one season; during the expansion draft, management forgot to bring a power supply or batteries for the computer storing draft information, leading to three illegal selections for which Bridgman apologized. The Senators finished 10–70–4, and he was dismissed. He never held another job in professional hockey.

Personal life and death

Following his firing, Bridgman worked in finance for Smith Barney in California and lived with his family in Manhattan Beach. He married Ann Carter in 1983; they later divorced and had four children: sons Jamie, Patrick, Geoffrey, and a daughter Christine. Bridgman died from heart failure on November 6, 2025, at age 70 in Victoria. His family established a memorial fund in his name to raise money for CTE research.