Alexander Mogilny

Alexander Mogilny, the first Soviet player to defect to the NHL, will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 on Nov. 10. His remarkable journey from a daring escape in 1989 to a 16-season NHL career with 1,032 points highlights his pioneering role for Russian players. Teammates like Pat LaFontaine praise Mogilny as the most talented player they ever played with.