Congratulations to former Buffalo Sabres star Alex Mogilny on his election to the Hockey Hall of Fame! Mogilny, who famously defected from the USSR in 1989, was drafted by UB Law graduate and former Sabres GM Gerry Meehan with a 5th round draft pick in 1988, with no assurance that the young winger would ever be able to play in the NHL. It turned out to be an incredibly insightful move.
In an international incident seemingly out of a James Bond thriller, Mogilny contacted former Sabres scout Don Luce while at a tournament in Stockholm, indicating his intent to defect. Thus began an incredible weekend of cat and mouse, with the Sabres executives and Mogilny staying one step ahead of the KGB while I in my former role as external Sabres counsel drafted Mogilny’s asylum application.
Mogilny’s electrifying performance included one season in which he scored 76 goals and 51 assists for 127 points, partnering with Pat LaFontaine for one of the most formidable goal scoring combinations in team history. Mogilny retired with 1032 points in 990 games over 16 NHL seasons.
Congratulations to Former Sabres Star Alex Mogilny on Induction to Hockey Hall of Fame
Helen A. “Nellie” Drew is an expert in sports law, including professional and amateur sports issues ranging from NCAA compliance and Title IX matters to facility construction, discipline of professional athletes, collective bargaining and franchise issues. Drew formerly served as an officer and in-house counsel to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, after previously working as outside counsel to the Sabres and the NHL. Among her more interesting experiences were assisting former USSR superstar Alexander Mogilny in obtaining asylum status in the U.S. and working on multiple NHL expansions, including San Jose, Ottawa, Florida and Tampa Bay.
Drew teaches a variety of courses that incorporate topics such as drug testing in professional sports and professional player contract negotiation and arbitration. She is especially interested in the evolving research and litigation concerning concussions in both amateur and professional sports.
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