Meehan selected to Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame

Gerry Meehan was a pioneer in the National Hockey League, becoming one of the first former players to hold a front office position for an NHL team and the first former Sabres player to do so in Buffalo.

To honor his accomplishments and efforts, the former Sabres forward and general manager will be inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame this fall as a member of the Class of 2023, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Meehan will be part of the 33rd class to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1991.

"I think that what best expresses my feelings is that it's an honor to be included in the community and to be recognized as having made a contribution to the sports and life here in Western New York," he said.

"…It has been the place where we've raised our children, have great friends, and reestablished our presence here as residents. All I can say is that it's great to be included in the group that I see are already in the Hall of Fame and those who are going to be inducted this year."

As a member of the inaugural Sabres team in 1970, Meehan played four seasons in Buffalo before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1974. During his time with the Sabres, the Toronto, Ontario native recorded 94 goals and 114 assists in 306 games and served as team captain from 1971 to 1974 prior to his departure.

"The idea that an expansion team was coming - not only to Buffalo - but close to my home in Toronto, and to be selected by them and get a chance to play as an NHL regular, obviously made my career," Meehan said.

Following stints in Vancouver, Atlanta and Washington, Meehan received his law degree from the University at Buffalo in 1982. He spent time working with the Sabres' law firm and helping then-Sabres coach and GM Scotty Bowman with player contracts, hoping to one day work for the team.

When Bowman asked him to officially join the staff as assistant GM in 1984, Meehan was ecstatic.

"You don't think it's ever going to happen, but I think I was capable. I had the training, and I had some background in the game, not only as a player, but as a lawyer. So, it was a great fit," Meehan said. "It was a great start."

During the 1986-87 season, Bowman left Buffalo and Meehan was promoted to GM. Over the years in his position, he brought in many notable Sabres players, including Alexander Mogilny, Dale Hawerchuk, Pat LaFontaine and Dominik Hasek.

To Meehan, becoming a player in the NHL and then a GM was not necessarily a natural progression, but rather the culmination of fortuitous events in his life combined with his education, hard work, and athletic skill.

"Resiliency, ability to adapt to new situations and creative thinking are always important for both athletes, managers and lawyers," he emphasized.

Meehan specifically remembers trading for LaFontaine to place him alongside Mogilny. The pair went on to combine for 129 goals and 275 points during the 1992-93 season, which saw Mogilny tally 76 goals - a franchise record.

"With LaFontaine and him together, that made a perfect combination," Meehan said. "Dale Hawerchuk, obviously, was a great backbone for those guys.

"I think that one of the important things that we were doing at that time was that we were building a team that not only was highly competitive and could challenge for a Stanley Cup, but also it was to build an image around the team that supported the efforts to get a new arena built."

The excitement surrounding the team and talent on the ice made way for that new arena, which fans now recognize as KeyBank Center.

In 1993, Meehan was named the executive vice president of sports operations before leaving the organization in 1996 to provide consulting services for sports organizations. His impact is still felt in WNY today as he has focused his time on helping former athletes find what's next.

"Right now, I'm working on some projects for former athletes, education benefits through the University at Buffalo and some benefits through the Players Association to provide retiring players with knowledge about what they've got next when life is over for sports but got to live the rest of their lives," he said.