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The Top 3 Toronto Maple Leafs Not in the Hall of Fame

By Kyle Cushman

KANATA, CANADA - APRIL 14: Alexander Mogilny #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates after the play against the Ottawa Senators during game four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Corel Centre on April 13, 2004 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 4-1 to tie the series 2-2. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
KANATA, CANADA - APRIL 14: Alexander Mogilny #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates after the play against the Ottawa Senators during game four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Corel Centre on April 13, 2004 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 4-1 to tie the series 2-2. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
20 Apr 2002: Alexander Mogilny #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs controls the puck during game two of the Stanley Cup playoffs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Leafs won 2-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI /

Alexander Mogilny

Leafs Stats: 176 GP, 65 G, 166 PTS

Career Stats: 990 GP, 473 G, 1032 PTS

Quite frankly, it’s stunning that Alexander Mogilny isn’t already in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

His career as a Toronto Maple Leafs player was relatively brief, spanning just three seasons and 176 games, but in those, he made an impact as the best winger Mats Sundin ever had.

For what seems like Sundin’s entire Leafs career, Toronto management failed to get him a premier winger to play with. That changed in 2002 when head coach Pat Quinn decided to put his two best offensive weapons on a line together.

In doing so, Quinn created a dynamic duo that was almost impossible to stop. Mogilny would lead the Leafs in scoring with 33 goals and 79 points, the only time in Sundin’s tenure with Toronto in which he did not lead the team in scoring. Mogilny would also win the Lady Byng that season, his lone NHL award.

When looking at former Toronto Maple Leafs not yet in the Hall of Fame, Alexander Mogilny is the easy choice as the best that isn’t in.

His Leafs career came as he entered his 30s and began to decline due to a history of injuries. Even with this, his 2002-03 season is one of the best in recent Toronto history and isn’t remotely close to his peak performance.

Mogilny in his prime was a truly dominant force. His 1992-93 season was immense, tying Teemu Selanne for the league lead in goals with 76 (!). This came when scoring rates were much higher, but even the 62 era adjusted goals are a mark rarely seen in NHL history.

The case for Mogilny isn’t just about his peak. The entire career, 990 games and 1032 points, is enough to get him in despite the injury woes limiting him from ever playing a full schedule. Add in two All-Star team nods and his place as a member of the Triple Gold Club, and the case only continues to build in Mogilny’s favour.

He is put well over the edge when you factor in his importance in the history of hockey. As the first player to defect from the Soviet Union and play in the National Hockey League, Mogilny made history in paving the way for future Russian stars and did so while facing immense xenophobia.

Take all that into account, and then remember he did this as a 20-year-old. And that he was scoring at a point per game by 21.

Simply put, Alexander Mogilny should have been inducted into the Hall of Fame long ago, and hopefully, that is rectified Wednesday and he becomes the newest Toronto Maple Leaf alumnus in the Hall of Fame.

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