Alexander Mogilny's long wait for the Hockey Hall of Fame is over, as the high-scoring Russian winger was named as part of the eight-member class of 2025.
Mogilny will be joined by former NHL players Joe Thornton, Zdeno Chara, and Duncan Keith as well as women's hockey stars Brianna Decker and Jennifer Botterill. Mogilny had been eligible for election for 16 previous years, dating back to 2009, but was passed over time and again until he finally got in on his 17th attempt.
Mogilny is one of 30 players in the Triple Gold Club, having won the Stanley Cup, gold at the Olympics, and gold at the world championships. Mogilny also led the league in goals in 1992-93 with a total of 76, which is tied for the fifth most in a single season.
The Sabres drafted Mogilny with the 89th pick in 1988, which came at a time when young Soviet players were restricted from playing in the NHL. Mogilny was 20 years old when he made his NHL debut in 1989, which was a Buffalo win over Quebec in which he scored and had seven shots. He finished his rookie season with 15 goals and 43 points in 65 games, offering only a glimpse of what he would quickly become.
Mogilny scored 30+ goals in four straight seasons, aided by the arrival of linemate and future Hall of Fame centerman Pat LaFontaine in 1991-92. The duo combined for the best offensive season in Sabres history in the 1992-93 season, when Mogilny set a franchise record that stands today with 76 goals in 77 games and finished second to LaFontaine with 127 points.
Mogilny played 16 seasons and accumulated 1,032 points with Buffalo, Vancouver, New Jersey, and Toronto. He won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Devils in 2000. Mogilny was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 2011.
Not only was he a pioneer for the Sabres franchise, but for Russian hockey players as well. Seeing Mogilny get his shining moment puts a smile on the faces of all Sabres fans.