Alex Mogilny married explosive speed with crafty playmaking savvy to become one of the dominant National Hockey League (NHL) forwards of the 1990s and 2000s.

Mogilny was born February 18, 1969 in Khabarovsk, USSR. He was recruited at a young age to play hockey with the legendary CSKA (Red Army) Moscow, and joined full-time in 1986 at 17 years of age, playing three seasons with CSKA Moscow of the Soviet League from 1986 to 1989.

The Buffalo Sabres took a chance in drafting Mogilny in the 5th round, 89th overall, at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, knowing that he may not be allowed to leave the Soviet Union to join an NHL team. But he defected to the United States following the 1989 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden and made his NHL debut with the Sabres on October 5, 1989. During his six seasons with Buffalo, Alex achieved many milestones. With a goal scored five seconds from the opening faceoff on December 21, 1991, Mogilny tied the NHL record for fastest goal to start a game. In 1992-93, he set career-highs with 76 goals and 127 points. His 76 goals tied him with Teemu Selanne for the League’s goal scoring lead. That total was the fifth best single season goal total in NHL history. It also was the best goal total in Soviet/Russian history while his 127 points was the most by a Soviet/Russian player in NHL history. With Buffalo in 1993-94, Mogilny became the first Soviet/Russian player to captain an NHL team. He led the Sabres in scoring during the 1994-95 season, his final campaign with that team.

During the summer of 1995, Alex was traded to the Vancouver Canucks and played five seasons with them, from 1995-96 to 1999-2000 and twice led the Canucks in scoring. On March 14, 2000, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils and played two seasons with them, winning the Stanley Cup in 2000. In his second season in New Jersey, Mogilny led the Devils with 43 goals. Prior to the 2001-02 season, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs and played three seasons with the club. In 2002-03, he led Toronto in scoring and was named the winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play.

The NHL did not play during the lockout-cancelled 2004-05 season, but Moginly re-joined New Jersey in 2005 and split that season between the Devils and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany River Rats.

Through his NHL regular season career, Alex Mogilny played 990 games, scoring 473 goals and 559 assists for 1,032 points. In playoff action, he played 124 games and collected 39 goals, 47 assists and 86 points.

Recognized for his talent, he was selected for the NHL’s Second All-Star Team in 1993 and 1996. Alex was also named to play in six NHL All-Star Games, although missed one due to injury.

Alex Mogilny also starred while representing his country. He represented the USSR at one European Junior Championship and three IIHF World Junior Championships. At the 1988 World Junior tournament, Mogilny was named Top Forward and Tournament All-Star while the USSR took the Silver Medal. At the 1989 IIHF World Juniors, he was team captain of the USSR club that earned the Gold Medal.

Although only 18 years old, Alex joined the USSR team at the 1988 IIHF Olympic Winter Games, and returned with a Gold Medal. He won a Gold Medal as a member of the USSR team at the 1989 IIHF World Championship. Mogilny was a member of the Russian team at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

A member of the esteemed Triple Gold Club, Mogilny has won an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Cup Gold Medal and the Stanley Cup championship.

In 2011, Mogilny was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame and in 2016, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. That same year, Alex was named the 83rd Greatest Toronto Maple Leaf.

Currently serving as President of Amur Khabarovsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL,) Alex Mogilny was honoured by his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Player Category in 2025.