1976-77 O-Pee-Chee 26 Mel Bridgman Hockey Card (Front)
1976-77 O-Pee-Chee 26 Mel Bridgman Hockey Card (Back)
1976-77 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Mel broke right into the Philadelphia lineup without the benefit of minor league experience, and he became a regular without much trouble. He didn’t miss a game last season. Mel was the number one player chosen in the 1975 amateur draft.
En Français
Mel débuta pour Philadelphie sans avoir joué un seul match dans les mineures et il se tailla une place sans trop de difficultés. Premier joueur choisi au repêchage des amateurs en 1975.
Details
Mel Bridgman was the first overall pick at the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft after an outstanding 1974-75 season with the Victoria Cougars of the WCHL. In 66 games, he scored 66 goals and assisted on 91 for 157 points. He led the league in scoring with a 13 points edge over Bryan Trottier. His goal total was good for second, 16 behind leader Don Murdoch.
In the voting for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year, Bridgman finishing fifth, a great distance behind winner Bryan Trottier. Also in the running were Glenn Resch, Dennis Maruk and Michel Bergeron.
Mel served as team captain with the Flyers for the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons. After starting the 1981-82 season with seven goals and 12 points in nine games, Bridgman was traded to the Calgary Flames for Brad Marsh. He continued his offensive ways that year in Alberta and came out with career highs of 33 goals and 87 points.
Between 1975-76 and 1988-89, Mel Bridgman appeared in 977 regular season and 125 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Flyers, Flames, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks. He was the first general manager of the Ottawa Senators when the franchise joined the NHL for the 1992-93 season.