Former first overall pick Mel Bridgman has passed away.

Some very sad news has just been announced.

In an official statement from the National Hockey League's Alumni, it was revealed on Saturday that former NHL first overall pick Mel Bridgman has sadly passed away. Bridgman was only 70 years old.

Bridgman was a highly touted prospect when he first entered the NHL having been drafted first overall by the Flyers in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft as it was called at the time as well as first overall by the Denver Spurs of the World Hockey Association's (WHA) own Amateur Draft in the very same year. Bridgman would eventually choose the Flyers however and it wouldn't be long before he would leave a permanent and indelible mark on that franchise.

Bridgman immediately exploded onto the scene as a rookie with 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points in his very first NHL season and he would continue that level of dominance for the Flyers over many seasons, eventually earning the "C" on his jersey as the team's captain.

Although Bridgman will be best remembered as a member of the Flyers, his NHL career saw him play for several teams including the Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks. In total Bridgman would appear in 977 career games and recorded 252 goals and 449 assists for a very respectable 701 career points in the NHL.

My heart goes out to the Bridgman family today and my most sincere condolences go out to them as well as any former teammates, loved ones and fans who are mourning his passing.