1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Gerry Meehan #22 Buffalo Sabres Captain

Description

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Gerry Meehan #22 Buffalo Sabres Captain Gerry Meehan's 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee card documents the first captain in Buffalo Sabres franchise history, a distinction that gives this otherwise understated card outsized historical significance for franchise collectors. Selected from the Philadelphia Flyers organization in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft that stocked the brand-new Sabres roster, Meehan was named the club's inaugural captain and helped set the tone for a team that would go from expansion afterthought to Stanley Cup Finalist within five seasons. The card back describes him as "one of the strongest forwards in the NHL" during his best offensive seasons, and details his path through the Toronto Marlboros junior system and brief stints with Philadelphia and Toronto before becoming a full-time fixture in Buffalo. Meehan's importance to the organization extended well beyond his playing days; after retiring he transitioned into the Sabres' front office and eventually became the team's general manager, giving him one of the most complete franchise resumes of any player from this era. The reverse, presented in O-Pee-Chee's signature Canadian bilingual English/French format, includes his full statistical record and a small illustrated cartoon panel referencing his reputation as a strong forward "in the LNH" (the French abbreviation for the NHL). this is confirmed to be a true bilingual O-Pee-Chee back, not a puzzle-back variety, consistent with all cards in this Canadian print run. Careful visual review of the card shows excellent overall eye appeal, with sharp, well-defined corners showing minimal softening, clean edges free of chipping, and centering that appears close to ideal for this notoriously difficult-to-find-well-centered set. The white home jersey photography is crisp and the orange border retains vivid, unfaded color throughout. No creases, stains, or surface abrasions are visible under close inspection. Given the clean presentation, this example likely represents one of the better-preserved commons on the sheet, though a conservative estimate is still applied pending in-hand confirmation, as scans can mask subtle print defects and surface wear common to cardboard of this vintage. A must-have for any collector building a complete run of early Buffalo Sabres captains and franchise cornerstones. Grade Estimate: EX-MT 6