Why Isn’t Alex Mogilny in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

[@chamber32doors]

Hockey Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Oscars... it's all bullshit. Real hockey fans know Mogilny deserves to be in.

[@hockeytard1]

" Hockey Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Oscars... it's all bullshit". Truer words have never been spoken. Alex Mogilny not in the HHOF and Iron Maiden still not in the R&R HOF is baffling.

[@glenw-xm5zf]

Almo wasn't a big playmaker but his passes were amazing. i remember a pass that led to Bertuzzis goal. Very few could make a pass like that, because they would have to have read the play half a second in advance

[@mediumdoubledouble9012]

Almo not being in HHOF is like Iron maiden not being in the RRHOF. Just don’t make sense!!!

[@RoyalMela]

@@mediumdoubledouble9012 Mogilny not being in HHOF is like why the f**k Whitney Houston or Janet Jackson are in RRHOF.

[@nolankuffner3573]

Well, I'll say the Russians probably have a say in keeping him out (bribes in hockey exist). And also, that Cup run was one of the worst years he played and his contribution to the Devil's playoff success was minimal at best. He was a fourth liner, cosplaying as a worthwhile addition. Genuinely, if I were Vancouver, I wouldn't have been sad to see him go. Injury prone, defensive liability, and genuinely seemingly lacking motivation for most of the season.

[@PatDK]

In my opinion, it is actually a bad look on the HHOF that they still have not voted him in…

[@crow_2k11beatsbydre8]

Hockey sucks, but he is a no doubt H.O.F ......

[@ethanparker7900]

yes how tf is he not in yet?

[@timlee1794]

Yep. It's just odd. But Colin Campbell, he's in. LOL

[@funforalgernon]

Mogilny, Tkachuk…lots of weird omissions

[@ML-my8qq]

Ya some years it seems like they are grasping at guys to induct to meet some sort of quota, but to keep this guy out for so long is baffling.

[@KadeRiley-hq8gc]

Not only does he have the numbers and awards/championships to be hall of fame worthy, he also risked his freedom for hockey. If He had been caught by the soviets when he defected he could have gone to jail for the rest of his life or worse. This truly is a person that risked everything for the sport he loved.

[@volodja99]

by doing so he also paved a way to NHL to plethora of russian players but also others behind the iron curtain like czechs and slovaks.

[@MisterMister5893]

Not to diminish his accomplishments but wasn't he just one of the guys that defected at the time? I only ask this because this is not the first time I have read people attributing this to him and him alone when my recollection of that time was there were a lot of defectors.

[@LateCloser]

@@MisterMister5893 If memory serves, he was the only defector. Certainly, the only young one. I recall there being other Russian players in the league, but they were all very old at the end of their careers. And I believe the NHL changed the requirements for the Calder trophy because Russian guys over 30 were winning it(Makarov, I think). He paved the way for other young Russians to play in the league. He took a HUGE risk, coming to the NHL. He had some personality quirks. I know he rarely did interviews with the media. I also recall hearing he hated flying on planes, which is incredible. I don't think he had a good relationship with the media, which is probably one of the bigger contributing factors of him not being in. But who knows.

[@jogendron6320]

The Stastny Bros paved that way before Mogilny.

[@sports2hedz542]

You would think a player defecting from the Soviets would be celebrated...fishy

[@ThunderTHR]

Mogilny not being in the HOF is such a disservice. Some of his accomplishments include; - *76* goals in 1992-93 with the Sabres. - 450+ goals scored in his career. - 1,000+ points scored in his career. - A member of the Triple Gold Club (won an Olympic Gold Medal, World Championships Gold Medal, and a Stanley Cup.) - Multiple time All-Star - Lady Byng Trophy Winner - The fastest to ever score a goal in their NHL debut (20 seconds!) - First ever Russian NHL captain and first to be named to the All-Star team. - Still ranks amongst the Top 5 for all-time Russian scorers in the NHL. - The ONLY player who ever outscored Mats Sundin in a season with the Leafs. I understand this point in particular wouldn't be considered HOF worthy, but I bring this up due to Sundin's HHOF status and citing Mogilny as "the best player (he's) ever played with." - Fellow HHOF players (The aforementioned Sundin, Igor Laironov, Pat LaFontaine, Sergei Federov, Pat Quinn) have ALL sung his praises as being a tremendous hockey player who all feel is worthy of a HOF induction. Absolutely shameful he's been denied all these years.

[@jogendron6320]

None of these criteria opens the door for the HOF.

[@ponli7532]

@@jogendron6320 Tripple Gold Club, 1000 points, Shared Rocket Throphy with Selanne if it had existed at the time. He should be a slam dunk for the hall.

[@rigafraction1653]

Outscoring Sundin on the Leafs isn't a HoF qualification, nor is having 1 good year playing with Lafontaine having a career year.

[@jfayiii]

@@jogendron6320 "NoNe OF Dese KriteERiA"

[@incumbentvinyl9291]

A rather funny list. None of it makes him really stand out nor are they prerequisites for the HHoF. Nicholls had a 70+80 150 point season and is not in the Hall. That's far more impressive than 76+51 127 points. Overall Nicholls is easily more worthy than Mogilny, and he is one of many, including for example Damphousse. Mogilny has one Lady Byng, which is largely irrelevant, and one Cup in which he was a bottom six forward. Yes, he won the Cup, but he was a non factor in all honesty.

[@t.b.player7102]

I was a police officer in Buffalo the year after Mogilny came. I pulled over a black Corvette for speeding at about 2:00 AM. When I walked up, I saw a nervous guy and immediately knew who he was. I was star struck and motined him to wait, since he still didn't speak English. I ran back to my police car, ripped the cover off my ticket book, and asked for his autograph. He was so relieved he wasn't in trouble and gave me his practice jersey.

[@BloggerMusicMan]

Alexander Mogilny is absolutely a Hall of Famer. You cannot tell the story of hockey without talking about Mogilny coming to North America. Once he was here, he was a point per game player and a Stanley Cup champion. One of the most skilled players of his era.

[@rigafraction1653]

Absolutely false. Can definitely talk about hockey without Mogilny coming to NA, and he only reached 80 points 4 times, he failed to break 50 points in half of the seasons he did play.

[@BloggerMusicMan]

@@rigafraction1653 Wanted to respond because there is some important context absent from your comment about the point about games played, but also a little thing about the story of hockey. 1) He was a greater than point-per-game player overall in his career, and he scored 1,032 points in that career. That's the bigger story. The reason he didn't break 50 points in the seasons you're talking about is mainly injuries. He often didn't play too many games in those seasons, particularly later in his career. From 1997 to 2006, which is about half his career, he only played more than 60 games twice. In one of those years (2000-01), he had 83 points in 75 games. From 1989 to 1997, he led the league in goals once with 76. He had another season with 55. And he scored at greater than a point per game pace in all but his rookie year. This is also just his NHL achievements. I'm not even mentioning his international accomplishments. The Hall of Fame just inducted a forward (Datsyuk) who had 918 points in 13 years and was not a point per game player. Like most hockey fans, I think he's an absolutely deserving candidate for the Hall of Fame. I only say this to say that Mogilny's numbers, skills, and accomplishments are very much in the same league as a number of other players who have been inducted. 2) What I said in my original comment was that you couldn't tell the story of hockey without talking about Mogilny's defection. His defection was the first in what ended up being a line of Russian players coming to the NHL in the early '90s, and really broke the door open for those other players. The long-term impact that has had on the NHL and on hockey has been immense: multiple Rocket Richard winners, Hart winners, a Stanley Cup champion captain, elite defensemen, as well as a huge influence the Russian NHLers had on the style of play of champion teams (think the Russian Five). I would say that's pretty essential to the story of hockey.

[@Derrick2shot]

@@rigafraction1653 Poor comment.

[@incumbentvinyl9291]

@@BloggerMusicMan No. He literally is not a Hall of Famer. He was a non factor in the Cup run, remember that. A guy like Damphousse is easily more worthy, a better playoff performer and would have won the Conn Smythe if not for Roy, as Damphousse had 23 points in 20 playoff games, miles ahead of the rest of the team. Mogilny had a slightly better prime, but unless you for some strange reason value the Lady Byng as a major trophy, Damphousse, among many others, should be in the Hall before Mogilny. ''1) He was a greater than point-per-game player overall in his career, and he scored 1,032 points in that career. That's the bigger story.'' Common for good offensive players of the era, especially when you play so few games as an older player due to injuries. He didn't even combine for a full season of games played post lockout. It's not the bigger story. ''And he scored at greater than a point per game pace in all but his rookie year'' He did not. Check the facts. Datsyuk won three Selkes and a combined eight personal trophies. He is a career +/- 249. Everyone and your grandmother knows there is no comparison to be had here. Completely different player and completely different level. I argue that the Stastny brothers' defections were far more significant. Mogilny did his just a few years before the total collapse of the Soviet Union, and Perestroika was already a reality even the year he defected. It changed nothing other than him possibly playing an extra season in the league. Also, don't forget that Malkin had to do the same thing defecting from Finland in 2006. It just wasn't as politically charged. Mogilny didn't suddenly open the floodgates.

[@BloggerMusicMan]

@@incumbentvinyl9291 He's not at Hall of Famer right now, obviously. I'm arguing that he should be. Regarding his playoff numbers, because that's the point you're trying to make, he was an older player by the Devils' 2000 run, dealing with injuries. Stevens, Niedermayer, Brodeur, Holik, and Elias played larger roles, no question. And while he didn't score points the same way he did before (the following year in 2001 he scored 16 points in 23 games, which should also be noted), he was a respected member of that team. Before that, he was on some relatively bad teams. During his 76 goal season, he scored seven goals in seven playoff games that year. I'm not going to dump on Damphousse. He was a really good player, and excellent during Montreal's Stanley Cup run in 1993. But saying Mogilny had only a slightly better prime is just not true. Mogilny broke 50 goals twice, including a 76 goal season. Damphousse's career high in goals? 40. Damphousse's single season career high in points? 97. Mogilny's? 127. These were two players who played in the same era. Damphousse had more career points, but at less than a point per game pace, and he was healthier and played more games. Had Mogilny played the same number of games, he likely would have eclipsed him. I actually do value the Lady Byng as a significant trophy, and that really helps Datsyuk's case as well. I don't view it as being as major as the Hart or the Art Ross or (for defencemen) the Norris or (for goalies) the Vezina. But I do view it as being on par to the Selke. The Lady Byng is for a high standard of play as well as gentlemanly conduct. I do think there's something to be said for elite players who play the game the right way,. It's an important part of their legacy, and it also really benefits their teams by not taking dumb penalties. I think it will be considered when Nathan MacKinnon gets into the Hall, for example. I said that from 1989 to 1997, he scored at a greater than point per game pace except his rookie year. And he did other than 1997, so my apologies for getting that last year wrong, but I don't think it derails my point. I picked '97 because that's the year that he started to really get injured more often. 1989-90: 65 GP, 43 PTS 1990-91: 62 GP, 64 PTS 1991-92: 67 GP, 84 PTS 1992-93: 77 GP, 127 PTS 1993-94: 66 GP, 79 PTS 1994-95: 44 GP, 47 PTS 1995-96: 79 GP, 107 PTS 1996-97: 76 GP, 73 PTS If we were to pick between Datsyuk and Mogilny, I would pick Datsyuk. Sure. I agree. And I think most hockey fans would agree with us that he was the more skilled and more complete player. I'm just saying that from an offensive stats perspective, there's an argument. If Bernie Federko is in the Hall, I absolutely think Mogilny gets in. If Guy Carbonneau is in the Hall, I think Mogilny gets in. If Vaclav Nedomansky is in the Hall, I think Mogilny gets in. Heck, if Shea Weber gets in, I think that Mogilny gets in. And that's saying something about Mogilny, because those guys were very good players. The Stastny brothers were ahead of their time. Peter Stastny is Hall of Famer without question, and him and his brother defecting means something very important to the sport. That does not make Mogilny's defection any less important or courageous. Nor does it make what Bure, Federov, Larionov, Fetisov, etc did after Mogilny any less important.

[@randytessman6750]

Mogilny, Bure & Fedorov has to be the greatest line ever outside of North America and one of the top 5 lines in hockey history easily. Bure & Fedorov are both in HoF and to keep Mogilny out is criminal !!!

[@IgsorZar]

You can take him for yourself. He is a traitor. He fled the country.. Now he has returned. He got a job as president of a Russian club. Traitors are not liked anywhere. He is not worthy of the Hall of Fame.

[@jogendron6320]

KLM was better

[@randytessman6750]

@@jogendron6320 together much longer but not nearly the offence of the three russian rockets

[@jogendron6320]

Offense isn’t everything. Rather lose 7-6 or win 3-2? KLM wins 3-2

[@FalaMerda]

Datsyuk got in with similar numbers this year and definitely no 127 P or 76 G seasons. Datsyuk also played on a ridiculous Red Wings team with like 10 HOF'ers on it. Obviously Datsyuk revolutionized the game in a very new and creative way but players like Mogilny and later on Kovalev laid the groundwork from which a young kid in Russia could look up to and take what they did and progress it to the next level. There's an equivalent in NBA with Allen Iverson to Steph Curry, etc.

[@jumbothompson]

Still remember his 76 goal year. 92-93 what a fantastic season.

[@Pocketrocket-pj1us]

And Selanne, pantomiming playing duck hunt! LOL where have all the good celebrations? Also 'May day--thanks Buffalo. Seriously, we were having an insanely hard time matching them and I can't say we finally overcame them, to win the Cup because after 4 upsets in the p2-93 playoffs, things went back to normal and we lost to Boston, In 7, after leading the series(thanks to Roy's 50 save O.T. win, in Boston. This was after being cleared to play after missing him in game 4( bacause of his appendix removed. I was at the forum to see that game. Stuck playing Ron (Lugnut, OK Tugnut, who, for the record, held THE RECORD for most saves by a goalie in One 65 minute, regular season game, against the Bruins. If you had to take Roy out. Who beyyer than That was a choic31, 65, regular) Next, wevhave the and Montreal and major injuries and the Stanley Cop's 100 year, and the All-Star game insanity in Montreal. It was goal after goal, after goal. Montreal blows a 2 goal lead against Quebec (with around 2 minutes to play. Game two, T.V. on but I'm in the kitchen, picking classes for college. We lost again. People were saying, 'Put goalie backup, in, Andre, 'Red Light Racicot'. WTF

[@martinnolan8408]

Take the politics out of the game, Mogilny deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. When I was 12 years old in 1995, I sent Mogilny a letter along with one of his cards. This was an assignment at school to write a letter to someone we admired. A few weeks later I received an envelope in the mail, and in it the card autographed by Alexander.

[@buckyhermit]

"1000 points. First Asian." I love that. People often forget that Mogilny is from the Asian part of Russia, close to the border with China.

[@dro_dozer]

I had to look up where he was from after he said that and I couldn’t believe how far east his hometown is

[@iGexogen]

@@dro_dozer Now imagine what it takes to orginanize Admiral (Vladivostok) vs SKA (St. Petersburg) match))

[@buckyhermit]

@ Most people are on the same boat. The only reason why I know is because I have an aunt on the Chinese side of that border and have been there. And I also lived in Korea, where some folks did business with Russia’s far east cities like Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. Just one of those things that you know if you’re in the right situation!

[@jkk4293]

Hilarious line to give the media 😂 what a great sense of humor

[@alexlepakhin905]

Mogilny is from Khabarovsk !

[@thefozzybear]

That line of Mogilny, Bure and Fedorov, just insane.

[@jasonjansen9831]

and I would argue Mogilny has the most talent, and is the most complete player on that line.

[@sergeontheloose]

@@jasonjansen9831 The most complete player is always the center, which is Fedorov. He was playing defense for the Red Wings when Scotty Bowman asked him to do it.

[@jasonjansen9831]

@@sergeontheloose Ok true, Federov was better defensively. I should have said the most complete offensive player because Almo could do it all, skate, score, the best playmaker on the line.

[@sergeontheloose]

@@jasonjansen9831 Nobody could touch Fedorov in his prime. Nobody. Have you seen Fedorov skate effortlessly past the whole team? He won Hart trophy and Selke trophy in the same season - who else could have done that?

[@jasonjansen9831]

@@sergeontheloose I mean, Fedorov himself said Mogilny was a better skater than he was.

[@WarioSaysSo]

89# Alexander Mogilny # Drafted: 89th overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 1988. # Stanley Cup champion: 2000 (NJ Devils) # Olympic Gold medalist: 1988 (Calgary, Candada) # IIHF World Championship gold medallist: 1989 (Stockholm, Sweden) # Triple Gold Club member: 2000. # Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 2003 # Goal-scoring champion (tied with Teemu Selanne): 1993 (76 goals) # 2x NHL second All-Star team: 1993 & 1996. # 6x NHL All-Star Game player: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001 & 2003 (injured). # 16 NHL seasons - represented 4 NHL teams: Buffalos Sabres 89-95, Vancouver Canucks 95-00, NJ Devils x2 00-01 & 05-06, Toronto Maple Leafs 01-04. # 1 AHL season - representing Albany Devils: 2005-2006. # 990 NHL games, 473 goals, 559 assists = 1,032 points / 124 games, 39 goals, 47 assists = 86 points. # The first Russian born to be an NHL team captain. # The first Russian born named to the NHL All-Star team . # Holds the highest single-season goal total + second highest single-season point total for a Russian born player. # The second Russian born player ever to reach 1,000 points in the NHL = hitting the milestone just a few days after Sergei Fedorov". # As of the middle of the 2023-24 NHL season = The fourth-highest Russian born scorer in the history of the NHL.

[@mcsorley2472]

I loved watching Mogilny, Bure and Federov play. They made their respective teams great. Mogilny ought to be in the hall of fame.

[@norvanman6125]

The Hall of Fame is a lesser institution for the way that they have treated Mogilny.

[@Joseph-n4c5l]

He's one of the greatest Russian players to play the game. That, in and of itself, qualifies him for the HOF.

[@incumbentvinyl9291]

Why would it? There isn't a very long history of Russian eligible HHoF players all things considered. I think he will eventually make it, but there are more worthy players ahead of him. People whine that Mogilny has waited a decade and a half. Bernie Nicholls has waited far longer.

[@rockstartrev]

I've been asking this same question since 2010

[@markmccrory3004]

I didn't know that he wasn't already. It's shocking to say the least.

[@thehighlanders607]

Mogilny should have been a FIRST ballot HOF!!! True story, Mogilny was about to board the team bus after a game, when my brother and I chased him down for his autograph just before the door closed and his interpreter was telling him to not worry about us but he stopped and turned around and told his interpreter "NO, I signed for the kids"! I will always remember that, what a class act.

[@wm5409]

one of my favourite players. We were lucky to have him in Vancouver.

[@Snipes-76]

What a video!! Chills! Alex Mogilny the Legend#89. HOFer through & through.

[@vdob6640]

He is from my home city Khabarovsk and certainly deserves to be in!)

[@jessewahwah]

As a Leaf Alex Mogilny scores a hat-trick against Tampa Bay and barely celebrates. Asked by the media after the game if he was happy about his 3 goals and he replies, "it's a Tuesday game in Tampa..............." Absolutely loved ALMO when he was in the blue and white. William Nylander VERY MUCH reminds me of Mogilny.

[@elninoson5282]

Was my favourite player growing up

[@aqn1976]

Fedorov, Bure & Mogilny, other than being great PPG players, simply deserve to be in HOF just for the cultural & historical effect they had defecting from Russia right after the Cold War... And I really dislike any HOF who depends on biased voters who have an agenda!!! The selection system should be unbiased and based solely on meritocracy, and nothing else!!!

[@AlexandrawOfficial_Lexi]

They hate him as he is RUssian Russians need to reach a different standard, even moreseo than Czechs meanwhile random female players NO ONE has ever heard of are in the HOF The West HATES Russia and Russians It is ok though, you dont know your gender, your societies are in ruin and you elect the likes of Trudeau Slava Russia (I am Serb and Ukrainian NOT Russian)

[@donniedoesdishes]

how pierre turgeon is in there and mogilny isnt , is baffling

[@G_Ellis606]

It's a joke

[@miltiadispaliouras6501]

They inducted Shea Weber this year! How and why?!?!?!?!?

[@ILY-24-7]

@@miltiadispaliouras6501 exactly! Shea Weber before Mogilny? Hopefully enough people bitch about it.

[@casketbrain7697]

And Eric Lindros Sorry Was Never A Fan Of His But Mogilny Should Be In The Hall Of Fame

[@hockeydude6]

It took Turgeon forever though -- and he has far more career points.

[@brickuz]

Time to kick out anyone from the HHOF selection committee that has consistently voted against him. They're obviously not qualified for that responsibility.

[@fakeplastic1826]

There was a 38 game stretch in 1992-93: 50 goals 21 assists 71 points In fairness to Gretzky he didn't score his first goal in 1981-82 until the third game so his 50 goal stretch was done in 37 games, and Gretzky had 57 assists during his run to 50 in 39 games to start the season.

[@FalaMerda]

Back before goalies mastered the butterfly and when half of every team were drunks, goons, and chain smokers. It was a different league back then. Gretzky is still one of my absolute favorites but he was playing with way less talent in that era.

[@vincenzoscarapicchia8298]

The fact that shea Webber got in first year eligible and Mogilny is still waiting shows everything you need to know about the hockey hall of fame. If Alex was from Dryden, Ontario he’d be a first ballot HOF.

[@PrinceAnt722]

Facts.

[@shavturtle1213]

The fact that they voted in shae Webber over mogilny is an absolute joke

[@rigafraction1653]

Weber belongs there, Mogilny does not. It's that simple

[@Scoots_McGee]

​@rigafraction1653 Please explain to me why Mogilny doesn't deserve to be in the HOF

[@jfayiii]

@@rigafraction1653 look at you go with your serial responses!

[@shavturtle1213]

He only thinks this because of Canadian bias

[@Dylligraphy]

@@rigafraction1653 No brain in your skull

[@SedatKulafofski-eh5pc]

Mogilny was amazing

[@denberg3303]

True and Legit Hall of Fame worthy. Mogilny was magical with his speedburst, stickhandling, and hockey IQ. Loved him as a Sabres fan back in the days and kept rooting for him when he played for other teams. He still was magical and a force to be reckonned no matter where he played. It surprises me thst his former line mate Pat Lafontaine is in the hall but Alexander Mogilny just seems vanished or something. Get this Riussian Magician in the HHOF!

[@davecoultas1874]

Such an egregious act by the HHOF shines an obvious spotlight on what's wrong with the system in place . Time for change .

[@Iamtheskidoostig]

If Fedorov is in. Mogilny DEFINITELY deserves a nod.

[@randytessman6750]

Bure is in too

[@tdeer16]

Better yet, if Shea Weber can get in during his first year of eligibility, then Mogilny should've been in a long time ago!

[@jogendron6320]

You obviously never watched Shea Weber play.

[@randytessman6750]

@@jogendron6320 or you Mogilny :)

[@brianphilippoi349]

Fedorov was far more successful and instrumental in the Red Wings playoff success from '95 - '02. Mogilny was unlucky in the playoffs: injured if he got off to a good start, or on bad teams, or playing hurt on good teams not putting up many points. Even though Bure only lost the Stanley Cup, he was far and away the leader in Vancouver's success in '94.

[@nietzschescodes]

It is also disgusting to see Tuch wearing #89 with the Sabres...#89 should have been retired by the Sabres for at least a decade.

[@McWerp]

Every time Mogilny is not inducted, it makes the conversation about the Hall of Fame each year 'Why not Mogilny?' Takes away from everyone else. Get over yourselves, induct him, and move on. Best time was 15 years ago, 2nd best time is now.

[@brudylpear3080]

We really need to media to do its job and keep the HHOF accountable. Great segment

[@Tlilancalqui]

I got to 44s before the bluring effect was too annoying. Looking at a monitor is hard enough, how can you do this to us? Anyway HHoF for Mogilny!

[@vektacular]

I got to skate with Mogilny one time at sabreland when he was doing an injury recovery….he was so incredibly fast that within 2 strides he was already as fast as my top speed….ive never seen anything like it to this day. I was 16 at the time and played travel hockey all the way up to Junior B level….it ain’t like I was a novice. Mogilny was perhaps the greatest skilled player ever.

[@Ianmackable]

Nice job on this, except for the blurring effect. Holy cow, it hurt my eyes!

[@giff74]

Watching 89 and 16 on a line together were some of my favorite nights of my younger days! The Sabres would never be so bold these days... smh

[@jerryslist]

Gerry Meehan for Sabres GM. Couldn't do worse than Adams.

[@giff74]

@@jerryslist agreed!!👍

[@wingedbuffalo4670]

The Sabres' big mistake was getting rid of Don LUUUUUUUUCE as Head pf Scouting operations and gutting the department.

[@matthewsecord7641]

I've seen Alex Molginy play live quite a few times. He was an absolute beast and it's a no-brainer. He should 100% be on there. I've seen him absolutely DESTROY A LOT of current hall of famers.

[@jogendron6320]

Lol lame comment. Your opinion won’t put him in. See I just DESTROYED your comment. 😂

[@Denimsmith2023]

Dangerous every shift. Had the game on his stick

[@jtom68]

Imagine if a NHL team had Mogilny and Bure playing with Federov

[@Yosusi88]

The answer is, he isn't Canadian. If he was, he would've been in HOF ages ago.

[@anthonydangelo3980]

He should've been in the hall of fame 15 years ago...period!! His numbers should have him alone. Regardless of playoff success, even though he has a cup and was a pivotal player. Quadruple gold. Was best player on the best line on the best team in international hockey and his linemates were PAVEL BURE and SERGIE FEDEROV. He was the first Russian defected. Trailblazer. It's disgusting he isn't in WTF is wrong with committee members. They have dementia or amnesia or something should be a crime to keep him out. The risk he took was immense, Russian prison camp in Siberia, death possibly..it shouldn't matter if his personality didn't sit well with anyone.

[@rigafraction1653]

His numbers stink. He had 2 good seasons in a 17 yr career, that saw him fail to make even 50 points in half of those.

[@OhCanada-wk3kl]

As a Canucks fan having watched Mogilny play for the Vancouver Canucks, I can say that he is truly deserving of this honor! His courage to defect started the "wall coming down" so to speak preventing Russian hockey players, some of the greatest in the world, from playing in the NHL. Come on NHL HOF Selection Committee- let's make this right already!

[@willlondon1824]

It's baffling that he has not already been inducted. But the NHL works in mysterious ways.

[@deansmith6593]

HHOF is a separate entity from the NHL and not run by the NHL.

[@SverigeiSverige]

It's not the NHL.

[@willlondon1824]

@@SverigeiSverige My mistake.

[@AlexandrawOfficial_Lexi]

They hate him as he is RUssian Russians need to reach a different standard, even moreseo than Czechs meanwhile random female players NO ONE has ever heard of are in the HOF The West HATES Russia and Russians It is ok though, you dont know your gender, your societies are in ruin and you elect the likes of Trudeau Slava Russia (I am Serb and Ukrainian NOT Russian)

[@voland1]

he was a great player and most definitely deserves to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame

[@paulgilhuis1]

The intern went a little overboard with the blurring effect button.

[@etiennesharp]

Jesus. A line with Bure, Federov and Mogilny!?

[@timmie2k3]

In all honesty, I think it's because he defected to come over and there's political pressure to keep him out. It's the only thing that remotely makes sense, because stats wise, and even just impact to the game, he absolutely needs to be in the HHOF.

[@brianphilippoi349]

It can't be the defection: Fedorov defected too, he just wasn't the first. Journalists didn't like him. The feeling was mutual. Journalists make up a decent portion of the selection committee. My theory is they see it as their duty to the honor of their profession to keep him blacklisted.

[@durbanbudz]

Shame on the HHOF.

[@williamwitt6212]

The HHOF tends to forget the builders... Alexander Mogilny, Manon Rheaume, Neal Broten, Gary Roberts, should all be in.

[@brianphilippoi349]

Neal Broten?

[@williamwitt6212]

@@brianphilippoi349 As a builder, absolutely. He was the first recipient of the Hobey Baker Award in 1981, was an integral part of the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" team for USA, was the first American-born player to tally 100 points in a season, the first American to score a Cup-winning goal in 1995 with the Devils, and at the time of his retirement, held the franchise records for many categories for the Dallas Stars. He was the first player (and one of only TWO) to have played on teams that won collegiate, amateur, and professional championships (NCAA Champ 1979, Olympic Gold 1980, Stanley Cup 1995). The only other player to do that is Ed Belfour. He's the winner of the 1998 Lester Patrick Trophy, a member of the U.S. hockey Hall of Fame (class of 2000), and even got Wayne Gretzky to drop the gloves. His accomplishments as a player paved the way for other American-born players. As just a player? No. But as a builder of American hockey? Yes.

[@mreppen1]

They never answered the question.

[@vancity87]

Haha, I was thinking the same thing!

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

It's a rhetorical question directed at the HHOF to pressure them.

[@yamez75]

Please, Mike Gartner -- push for Alexander Mogilny's and Rick Middleton's HHoF induction for 2025. They, hockey fans, and the game of hockey, itself, deserve this.

[@epicphailure88]

@@yamez75 The fact that Gartner is on the committee is further proof the HOF is the Hall of Good.

[@elawson1991]

​@@epicphailure88The guy had 17 straight 30 goal seasons and over 700 goals. He EARNED that induction just like Mogliny's has earned his

[@epicphailure88]

@elawson1991 He was a very good player but never elite.

[@dnasty312]

Why? Because he didn't put up 60 or 70-goal seasons in the '80s?​@@epicphailure88

[@onkyolive8399]

Must be discriminated for sure. There’s a lot of players not deserve to be in besides him.

[@wholeteam089]

He won't get selected cause won't attend the ceremony. I've been a diehard fan since '93. Ive followed his career closely, met him and I can tell you he's a proud man that won't put up with the pageantry of the HOF induction. Just like he didn't show up to the award ceremomy in '03 for the lady byng. None of that stuff matters to him and respect his decision not to be apart of it.

[@justobserving968]

Hey HHOF Induction Committee: it is never too late to do the right thing. If the HHOF truly reflects the BEST of our great sport, Mogilny deserves to be inducted.

[@patsgarage8593]

This is ridiculous. How is this real life?? Should have been in years ago

[@disinformationworld9378]

Go read Harrington. He’s a Buffalo reporter. If you want the reason he explains it.

[@fredblassie9523]

him and Middleton should have been in decades ago

[@BaronSupremacy]

As a kid growing up in Hamilton, Otario I'd listen to Sabres games on my walkman in bed when I should've been sleeping. I remember playing NHL Hockey on the Sega Genesis and always wanting to play as Buffalo for the line of Lafontaine, Mogilny, Andreychuk. I didn't grow up in a sports household, Mogilny captured my interest in hockey and I've loved it ever since. Not having him in the HHOF is criminal.

[@TheSamdroidOnline]

What an oversight.

[@AlexandrawOfficial_Lexi]

not an oversight They hate him as he is RUssian Russians need to reach a different standard, even moreseo than Czechs meanwhile random female players NO ONE has ever heard of are in the HOF The West HATES Russia and Russians It is ok though, you dont know your gender, your societies are in ruin and you elect the likes of Trudeau Slava Russia (I am Serb and Ukrainian NOT Russian)

[@dalton7726]

not an oversight, they know he's there, it's simple disrespect

[@DogoodPOG]

This was really well done

[@gordfoley4760]

It is a complete joke that he isn't in the Hall. Ask anyone that watched him play or played against or with him and they will tell you he belongs.

[@jogendron6320]

I watched him play, i disagree. Therefore your comment is wrong.

[@kentw4464]

He should be in. Just listen to all the NHL legends who voiced their support in this video. I know even other guys like Sundin, Brodeur, LaFontaine, Bure and Fedorov who believe he should be in.

[@bentencho]

Supposedly there are rumours that some of the Soviet-era players on the HHOF committee weren't fans of his defection to the NHL. That may be playing a role in why he's still not in the HHOF.

[@Peccs91]

This is as "open & shut" of a case/discussion as there is in sports. It can only be politics and personal grudges at this point keeping him out. There are many players in the hall with a much weaker resume. Would be interested to know who on the committee has it out for him.

[@Scoots_McGee]

Roenick was snubbed for a long time. Mogilny will get in for sure

[@waynemargetish7953]

with him in the hof you can fully tell the story of how the iron curtain fell, Mogily came to the nhl far different than Fedorov defection at the goodwill games in seattle and Bure going through newly created channels.

[@rigafraction1653]

Mogilny isn't required for that. He showed up in the NHL after Priyakin and at the same time as the rest of them

[@waynemargetish7953]

@@rigafraction1653 he defected which is different than anyone else that came over , and after him deals where made to pay off russia to get players. before he came over sometimes the nhl was able to pay russia for a player. the three broke down the russia wall and players started getting drafted in the first 3 rounds.

[@jerryczech953]

HE IS REALLY FIRST ASIAN ..to have 1000+ points 🙂 born in Russian far east ,city of Khabarovsk ,whic is way closer to Tokio ,Beijing or Seoul than Moscow ..he is truly Asian 🙂

[@jogendron6320]

He’s Russian not Japanese. Who cares how close. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@jerryczech953]

@@jogendron6320 but born in Asian part of Russia 🙂he lives there now ,and he is proud if it .Thats why he mentioned !!

[@eddy5097]

Apparently he pissed ppl off when he refused the lady byng But that's a dumb reason to keep him out of the HOF

[@kenshiroFNS]

How come he didn't want it?

[@eddy5097]

@kenshiroFNS there was a bit of a stigma attached to that award. It meant that you were skilled but soft I believe

[@ZZSmithReal]

If that's true then the entire selection committe should be replaced.

[@eddy5097]

@ZZSmithReal most of them were around during cold war times...they have a certain opinion of Russians that they have a hard time letting go of whether it's justified after 40 years...maybe

[@hockeydude6]

@@eddy5097 Exactly. I remember Glenn Anderson making some "joke" about the NHL awards being the "Russian" awards because Malkin and Datsyuk were winning 🙄

[@bigjacket7934]

He had a very "begrudgingly" prickly relationship with the media.. that might be it..

[@G_Ellis606]

The line of Fedorov, Bure and Mogilny is easily one of the top 3 lines in the history of hockey. All 3 deadly players...

[@brianphilippoi349]

And the coach in '96 World Cup broken them up 🤣

[@jogendron6320]

Not even top 10... Only Federov can play 200ft. Would lose 6-5 everytime.

[@rigafraction1653]

No

[@crushingalldeceivers]

Mogilny was an incredibly smart player. Any player with 1000 points should be in the hockey hall of fame.

[@janowskiryan]

I enjoyed the video, thanks for making it.

[@robrichards8074]

The reason he isn't in the HHOF is the way he defected and came to NA. The NHL and Russian hockey federation were still negotiating the compensation agreement when he left. The RHF were not happy about missing out on the cash from Buffalo and that could have risked the whole deal. This is the NHL's way of making amends to them by denying him his rightful place in the shrine.

[@klauskostas7528]

Mogilny...Hall of Fame...Absolutely

[@chrisragona3945]

It’s an old boys club handshake deal to never let him in. If the NHL wants to still draft Russian players, he’ll never get in.

[@brandonhall9959]

No he isnt in because he sucked in the back half of his career, had he retired before he was past his prime and maybe won a cup, he'd be in there. If you dont believe me look at his numbers, he had hot and cold seasons. Keep in mind if he wasnt scoring, he wasnt known for playing defense nor was he physical, so he essentially did nothing.

[@tylerfortin3239]

@@brandonhall9959 lingering issue, and he won a cup in 2000

[@AlexandrawOfficial_Lexi]

They hate him as he is RUssian Russians need to reach a different standard, even moreseo than Czechs meanwhile random female players NO ONE has ever heard of are in the HOF The West HATES Russia and Russians It is ok though, you dont know your gender, your societies are in ruin and you elect the likes of Trudeau Slava Russia (I am Serb and Ukrainian NOT Russian)

[@AlexandrawOfficial_Lexi]

@@brandonhall9959 They hate him as he is RUssian Russians need to reach a different standard, even moreseo than Czechs meanwhile random female players NO ONE has ever heard of are in the HOF The West HATES Russia and Russians It is ok though, you dont know your gender, your societies are in ruin and you elect the likes of Trudeau Slava Russia (I am Serb and Ukrainian NOT Russian)

[@brandonhall9959]

@tylerfortin3239 i missed that you are correct

[@Sandman60077]

Some big name players like Crosby and Ovechkin should refuse to go into the HOF until Mogilny is put in.

[@genesturby9247]

TSN... Why do that stupid un focus, then focus thing. Its just stupid annoying. 🙃

[@FalaMerda]

Because they don't have the rights or own the footage used in the video. American companies don't play.

[@kurtwpg]

I can see him being considered borderline on career stats, but he did win a Cup, he was literally the first drafted player to defect, and one of only 6 players to ever score 76 or more goals in a season.

[@jogendron6320]

Anton Stastny was drafted in the NHL and defected before your man crush. Your comment is factually wrong. Using the word literally doesn’t make a statement true.

[@kurtwpg]

@@jogendron6320 Love Anton Stastny. Not fucking stupid enough to think he's a Russian.

[@rigafraction1653]

Wasn't the first defector, and he really only had 2 great years, the rest were meh

[@BA-kp1us]

Yes this is getting ridiculous - Fedorov, Bure, Larionov are all in - how is Mogilny not?

[@rigafraction1653]

He only had 2 good seasons in a 17 yr career

[@Nikephorus]

@@rigafraction1653 That’s a terrible take. He averaged more than 1 point per game throughout his entire career.

[@MrRembrandt619]

In my personal opinion he is the best Russian forward to ever play the game without injury he would of been on the top of all the others

[@bjarczyk]

Great video but a big thing this video doesn’t show is Mogilny horrifically broke his leg in the playoffs during the season he scored 76 goals. More of our luck in Buffalo. It makes it even more incredible that he still had a resurgence in his career.

[@SpeedandSplendor]

Mogilny should have gone in with Bure or Fedorov.

[@brianphilippoi349]

Their playoff performances give them an edge. I can see why they would make him wait longer, but this is just far too long.

[@Krokodilius]

think about how many canadians have gotten into the hall of fame because they played on all-star canada teams, 0 cups or mvps....including weber this year. i'm taking mogilny over roenick, too. to answer your question: it's voter incompetence sort of like jose theodore or taylor hall winning the hart.

[@jogendron6320]

Weber should’ve won at least 2 Norris. You watch a lot of Preds games? Yeah didn’t think so. The East coast bias won his Norrises. Chara Subban.....

[@Krokodilius]

how many cups should he have won? still 0?

[@jogendron6320]

Mogilny won one without devils who didn’t need him.... Everyone on 2000 Devils should be in HHOf now? 🤡🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Krokodilius]

who are you to decide who a team needs or who contributes?

[@krob5375]

Weber is a good example of voters not being biased about Cup wins. They aren't necessary to be included. Weber has won pretty much everything you can win besides a Cup and a Norris. He also had good career numbers as a D man considering he played thru a lot of the dead puck era, and on a predominantly defensive team in the Preds. That said, Mogilny absolutely deserves to be in and should have gone in ahead of Shea.

[@DeadmanRising3]

To this day, Mogilny is one the absolute greatest players I've ever seen play the game. As a Canucks fan, I quickly became a Sabres fan when he entered the league and I was more than excited when he was traded to Vancouver in 1995. Phenomenal seems like an understatement for how good he was. He is far and beyond worthy of a Hall Of Fame induction. Its a crime that he's not in yet.

[@MrChappyman619]

Is that blur effect really necessary… so distracting

[@Woody13ify]

It’s baffles 🤯me when he hasn’t been inducted yet, I’m sure he will eventually get in but some of the people who have gone in ahead of him🤷‍♂️

[@aaf1044]

He was the only player on the Leafs to score more points than Mats Sundin during Sundin’s time in Toronto. He won the cup with NJ. 6 time all star. Lady Byng winner. He had back and hip issues unfortunately that affected his playing time but overall was a beauty who made people jump from their seats. He was also super clutch. He paved the way and gave many Russian players confidence in leaving Soviet Union. Any Sabres, Leafs, Devils, even Canucks fans will support him to go in hall of fame.

[@Scoots_McGee]

@aaf1044 i am a fan some of his rival teams and I'm all for Mogilny being inducted. I don't care if he beat my teams, or that he's Russian, man had over a thousand points in less than a thousand games. I'm glad Datsyuk got the nod this year, Jeremy Roenick had been snubbed for years, in confident Mogilny will get in

[@seanm2577]

The HHOF nomination committe is about on par as being as bad as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mogilny has better stats that many members. When Pierre Turgeon and Mike Vernon are in and Mogilny isn't, you know its fixed and the people involved in voting should be ashamed and replaced.

[@philippeh-l5334]

He should go in as a player and builder when he’s selected.

[@rigafraction1653]

He didn't build anything and wasn't good enough consistently as a player (only 2 truly great seasons in a 17 yr career, one of which was largely riding Lafontaine's coattails)

[@joehogan8234]

I loved watching him in the leafs. He was so smooth out on the ice.

[@nolankuffner3573]

Personally.. Lou can say they "might not have won without" him, but I think that's bs. Mogilny wasn't a top 12 playoff scorer on NJ, let alone in those playoffs. He was a defensive liability for most of the season, with the Devils and Canucks, something that carried over into a lacklustre playoff performance. He had one goal in the Final, in a loss to the Stars. He had a game winning goal, despite his team winning 16 games, and had just 2 other goals in that entire playoff run. As a guy heralded as still top tier, he was often carried by truly elite teammates, guys who might not have been the "revelation" that Mogilny was at times, but worked harder and did more to ensure their team's success. And this isn't just the perspective of someone who didn't care for any of the teams he played for and was a much bigger fan of another teammate (Fedorov). This is someone who views most of Mogilny's success being spearheaded by a lack of cooperation with teammates (hesitant to pass, trying to force his shots, lacking aggression on defense, etc..) or outright carried by a superior team. As in, most of his international play was dictated not by him but his teammates. Buffalo got Mogilny, as he was never going to escape their shadow, and was proven both on and off the ice to lack what they possessed. He had some great seasons with a decent Sabres team, but realistically? Very few of his goals or points (with the Sabres, Canucks, Leafs, and his last run with NJ) did little to sway games, often times added to a considerable losing effort or a point blank attempt to make up for a poor defensive decision. They won enough to make the playoffs, but until a great team like the Devils added him to an already stacked line up, he wasn't going to achieve any sort of success. The HHOF badgering sounds vaguely familiar to anyone who has heard the Leafs being talked about like a playoff team, these past 15 years. Good in the regular season when bottom feeders are still around. But the second REAL pressure is on, they crumble. And again, he had two great playoff appearances. That both ended in a first round loss and multiple defensive breakdowns, only slightly buoyed by an offensive breakout performance.

[@CharleB-sabres]

He risked his life to defect to play hockey, he has the stats, better stats than Sedins

[@rigafraction1653]

His stats stink, he had only 2 really good seasons in 17 yrs, and failed to reach even 50 points most of those

[@CharleB-sabres]

@ LOL, he was over a point per game with Buffalo and close to point per game r Rey other team he played for. He has 200 more goals than Sedins and Datsyuk in less total games. 473 goals in 990 games and OVER a point per game.

[@CharleB-sabres]

@ 473 goals in 990 games is better than Sedins and Datsyuk, Mogilny is over a point per game for his career

[@lydonw10]

I'm surprised he hasn't been . I'm 💯 confident that he was better then a few guys that have been inducted in the past couple years. That era where him and bure played together was Some of my favorite hockey memories

[@ssvinny2536]

100% he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame!!!

[@frenchycanada]

Mo one os more deserving than Claude Pronovost. Nine Cups and the number one checker who skated against the best at the time. It's an old boys club. I prefer raising jerseys to the rafters

[@chungang7037]

Both him and Bure look like modern players with how fast they are...

[@brianphilippoi349]

They would burn almost all of today's NHLers. They would be like McDavid out there, especially with the NBA rules the game uses today.

[@chungang7037]

@@brianphilippoi349 Yea with today's training and nutrition and who knows what I can only imagine. I remember seeing Fedorov skate when I was a kid, I was blown away how fast he was.

[@brianphilippoi349]

@@chungang7037 I wonder if today's players train any harder than they did. Bure, Fedorov, and Mogilny trained a lot harder than others in their day. Even the lesser teams in Soviet hockey trained like military, 11 months a year (Tod Hartje covers it in detail in Behind the Red Line).

[@chungang7037]

@@brianphilippoi349 There were stories back then that the Russians had to skate around the rink with a cement block behind them during training, I would not be surprised if they actually did that!

[@epicphailure88]

The bigger question is why are there so many 80s players in the HOF who just simply compiled stats by playing a long time in the highest scoring era in history. The HOF should be for elite, era defining players not good players who had longevity at the right time.

[@rk3739]

Shea Weber should not be going to the HOF

[@epicphailure88]

@rk3739 Yeah but the standards are much tougher for Dman and Goalies. Weber was a better player than say Gartner, Ciccarelli or Andreychuk.

[@SverigeiSverige]

@@epicphailure88 No!

[@rk3739]

@@epicphailure88 The HOF isn’t a participation award. Shea Weber didn’t accomplish enough to get into the HOF.

[@jogendron6320]

Weber was the best defenseman in the league for a few years. He would’ve got Norris trophies if it wasn’t for the East Coast bias. Better than Chara and 100 times better than Subban. Voters go to bed after they watched Habs vs Bruins but they miss the Kings vs Preds game who actually have the 2 best dmen in Doughty and Weber. Weber deserves, Mogilny not.

[@JUVI9596]

Theo Fleury belongs in it too

[@eggstu]

When the hockey world is mostly in agreement, to me the HHOF voters no longer represent the hockey world and should be removed and replaced. I'm not trying to say just because one player is in question but because I don't find many people that believe he doesn't belong. What's wrong with the HHOF?