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.