Alexander Mogilny in the Hall of Fame at long last, elected Tuesday as one of four NHL players in the 2025 class. It had been one of the great injustices in the Hall's history, with the Russian right wing scoring 473 goals and 559 assists for 1,032 points in 990 career games with the Sabres, Canucks, Devils, and Maple Leafs. But the point total was secondary to his impact as the first Soviet player to defect to the National Hockey League in 1989, paving the way for the wave of fellow superstars who followed. Mogilny did it all on the ice, too. He won a Stanley Cup in 2000 with the Devils and a Lady Byng with the Leafs in 2003, and co-led the NHL with 76 goals in the 1992 season (with Teemu Selanne), seven years before the Rocket Richard Award was created. Mogilny was a gold medalist at World Juniors, the Olympics (Calgary, 1988) and the World Championship in 1989, ... and it took 19 years —nineteen — after his career ended for him to get his due. The past electors should still be embarrassed.
In a surprise to no one, defensemen Zdeno Chara and Duncan Keith, and forward Joe Thornton were inducted on their first ballot, deservedly so.
Team Canada's women have two inductees — player Jennifer Botterill (yes, her brother is former Penguins associate GM and now Kraken GM Jason Botterill) and Daniele Sauvageau, who goes in as a builder through her coaching, development and executive work.
Team USA's women are well represented by Brianna Decker and legendary Boston University men's coach Jack Parker was elected as a builder.
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THE ASYLUM
Alexander Mogilny in the Hall of Fame at long last, elected Tuesday as one of four NHL players in the 2025 class. It had been one of the great injustices in the Hall's history, with the Russian right wing scoring 473 goals and 559 assists for 1,032 points in 990 career games with the Sabres, Canucks, Devils, and Maple Leafs. But the point total was secondary to his impact as the first Soviet player to defect to the National Hockey League in 1989, paving the way for the wave of fellow superstars who followed. Mogilny did it all on the ice, too. He won a Stanley Cup in 2000 with the Devils and a Lady Byng with the Leafs in 2003, and co-led the NHL with 76 goals in the 1992 season (with Teemu Selanne), seven years before the Rocket Richard Award was created. Mogilny was a gold medalist at World Juniors, the Olympics (Calgary, 1988) and the World Championship in 1989, ... and it took 19 years —nineteen — after his career ended for him to get his due. The past electors should still be embarrassed.
In a surprise to no one, defensemen Zdeno Chara and Duncan Keith, and forward Joe Thornton were inducted on their first ballot, deservedly so.
Team Canada's women have two inductees — player Jennifer Botterill (yes, her brother is former Penguins associate GM and now Kraken GM Jason Botterill) and Daniele Sauvageau, who goes in as a builder through her coaching, development and executive work.
Team USA's women are well represented by Brianna Decker and legendary Boston University men's coach Jack Parker was elected as a builder.
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