The Hockey Hall of Fame revealed its 2024 inductees on Tuesday, and the lineup is stellar.
The list includes Pavel Datsyuk, Shea Weber, Jeremy Roenick, Natalie Darwitz, Krissy Wendell-Pohl, Colin Campbell, and David Poile. Yet again, Alexander Mogilny’s name was missing from the selection.
Many are puzzled by this decision. Mogilny not only had a remarkable career but also played a crucial role in NHL history .
Mogilny’s Career Achievements:
Mogilny dazzled fans with his skills on the ice. He scored 473 goals and racked up 1,032 points over 990 games with teams like the Sabres, Leafs, Devils, and Canucks. He was an All-Star for all these teams and even won a Stanley Cup with the Devils. In the 1992-93 season alone, he led the league with 76 goals. His stats scream Hall of Fame material.
But what really sets him apart is his daring defection from the Soviet Union to join the NHL. This move wasn’t just risky; it was life-threatening due to potential repercussions from his home country. After playing in Stockholm during the World Championships in 1989, he took a plane to Buffalo to join the Sabres.
Fans might feel that leaving Mogilny out is unfair given his contributions both on and off the ice.
His defection paved the way for other Soviet players to enter the NHL. Within five years of his move, Russian players were among some of the best in the league. This shift changed hockey forever.
Given his influence as both a player and a pioneer who helped reshape NHL demographics —one could argue he deserves recognition as much as any builder or player inducted so far.
Every time he’s overlooked by the committee feels more embarrassing than before .
What do you think? Should Mogilny be in?
