Gerry Meehan, one of the first Buffalo Sabres players and an influential GM, dies at 79

Gerry Meehan's death marks the passing of a foundational figure for the Buffalo Sabres, whose imprint stretched from the club's initial player cadre to its front-office decisions. The Sabres announced Friday that Meehan died at 79, noting the team learned of his death from a family member; the exact location and cause were not disclosed. A Toronto native who embraced Buffalo as his hometown, Meehan transitioned from a Hall-of-Fame potential center to the Sabres' general manager in the late 1980s. As GM, he orchestrated moves that brought Dominik Hasek, Pat LaFontaine, Alexander Mogilny and Dale Hawerchuk into the fold.