Paul Kariya or Alexander Mogilny?

[SeanMoneyHands]

Who was more skilled?

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[DitchMarner]

I'm not sure he was necessarily more skilled (some say being consistent is a skill), but Kariya was definitely closer to his best more often and had a better prime and career.

Mogilny was outstanding in '93 and '96. He did benefit from playing with LaFontaine in '93 but had a big season away from him in '96. Kariya was one of the best wingers in the NHL until injuries took a toll on him.

 

[amnesiac]

Skilled? its Kariya.

Top 10 for the Hart 3 times (runner up in 96-97)

1st AS team x3
2nd AS team x 2

Mogilny's best Hart finish was 18th, and had 2x 2nd team AS

 

[BraveCanadian]

Kariya not close

In terms of talent it is closer but AlMo took a lot of time off

 

[DitchMarner]

Skilled? its Kariya.

Top 10 for the Hart 3 times (runner up in 96-97)

1st AS team x3
2nd AS team x 2

Mogilny's best Hart finish was 18th, and had 2x 2nd team AS

Does Hart voting really reflect skill or talent level, though?

The voters take a lot of things into account, including defensive play (not that either was all that special at that) and value to team (which is subjective).

But Kariya's best seasons probably are better from an offensive standpoint. He was top five in scoring in '97 despite missing 13 games.

 

[amnesiac]

Does Hart voting really reflect skill or talent level, though?

The voters take a lot of things into account, including defensive play (not that either was all that special at that) and value to team (which is subjective).

But Kariya's best seasons probably are better from an offensive standpoint. He was top five in scoring in '97 despite missing 13 games.

Well as much as Mogilny was often injured after 96-97, he wasnt necessarily always considered a top winger in the game except for maybe 2 seasons in his career.

Kariya absolutely was a top winger from 95-00 (injured 97-98).

3x 1st team AS and 2x 2AS for Kariya vs only 2x 2AS for Mogilny is quite the proof.

 

[Rorschach]

Kariya's game is flashier. Mogilny had much more formal training and thus even when his athleticism had taken a step down, he could still play bottom six on a championship team because his fundamentals are good.

 

[Albatros]

Kariya in terms of excelling in NHL hockey. Was one of the best players in the game for quite a while despite having to play through the DPE as a small finesse player. Today he'd give anyone in the league a run for their money.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Call me crazy, but I think it’s even.

When AlMo was motivated he was electric. He should have been better than he was statistically. But when he wanted to be, he was a top 10 winger in the game. Kariya wanted to be a top 10 winger a lot more though.

 

[Dog]

Both went through injuries but Kariya had more of them with no fault giving. If was just one on one in their primes it would be about equal. As for players both were great. It's tough one! I went with Mogilny but if Kariya had more offense support it be close in points or possibly more.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Very lucky to have been able to watch Mogilny in a Leafs jersey. He was very electrifying (that's a very good word to describe him) when healthy. Being biased, I choose him for this poll. But it is close.

 

[Staniowski]

Both extremely skilled, and both had their careers greatly affected by injuries.

I think most people who saw them play at their respective bests would say they they are both in the top tier of skilled hockey players ever, and most would probably say Mogilny was a bit more skilled than Kariya.

Kariya was probably compared to Gretzky more than any other player, particularly before entering the NHL. Very focused, a great skater, shooter, and passer.

Mogilny perhaps had the best combination of skating and shooting skills of any hockey player ever, and probably nobody has ever been able to shoot in stride as well as Mogilny.

Mogilny's skills were very likely the most visually beautiful in hockey history (when he was young),

 

[LongWayDown37]

Mogilny's best Hart finish was 18th, and had 2x 2nd team AS

Seriously?! With a 76-goal, 127-pt season. I realize that was a weird year with lots of high scoring, including his own linemate. But it still seems insane that he never finished higher than 18th. Anti-Russian bias?

Its also insane that he's still not in the HOF.

 

[amnesiac]

Seriously?! With a 76-goal, 127-pt season. I realize that was a weird year with lots of high scoring, including his own linemate. But it still seems insane that he never finished higher than 18th. Anti-Russian bias?

Its also insane that he's still not in the HOF.

18th for the Hart was actually the 95-96 season where he scored 55G/107P in VAN.

But after checking, you could only vote for the "top 3" for the awards in 92-93, so only 9 players got votes for the Hart, 1992-93 NHL Awards Voting | Hockey-Reference.com

Im sure Mogilny wouldve been 10-15th otherwise, but Lafontaine got all the Buffalo Hart votes.

Definitely should be in the HOF given his international career, but his injuries made him a big "what if". Again, he wasnt considered a top winger int he game really except for 93 and 96. Best he finished in scoring was 7th and 9th.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

2 of my fav players of all time. I dunno who to choose over the other I feel like Mogilny would be biased for me to choose since Im a leafs fan

Mogilny was the first jersey I ever bought with my own money

 

[frisco]

Production-wise they are pretty much the same with Mogilny the slight edge. Can't see why there are so many "Kariya and not close" votes.

Mogilny 1032 points in 990 GP. 86 in 124 playoff games.

Kariya 989 points in 989 GP. 39 in 46 playoff games.

My Best-Carey

 

[LongWayDown37]

18th for the Hart was actually the 95-96 season where he scored 55G/107P in VAN.

But after checking, you could only vote for the "top 3" for the awards in 92-93, so only 9 players got votes for the Hart, 1992-93 NHL Awards Voting | Hockey-Reference.com

Im sure Mogilny wouldve been 10-15th otherwise, but Lafontaine got all the Buffalo Hart votes.

Definitely should be in the HOF given his international career, but his injuries made him a big "what if". Again, he wasnt considered a top winger int he game really except for 93 and 96. Best he finished in scoring was 7th and 9th.

Thanks. That makes it feel a little less crazy.

 

[Video Nasty]

Production-wise they are pretty much the same with Mogilny the slight edge. Can't see why there are so many "Kariya and not close" votes.

Mogilny 1032 points in 990 GP. 86 in 124 playoff games.

Kariya 989 points in 989 GP. 39 in 46 playoff games.

My Best-Carey

For starters:

Best Scoring Finishes:

Mogilny: 7, 9, 14, 16
Kariya: 3, 3, 4, 7

Hart voting:

Mogilny: 18
Kariya: 2, 8, 9

All-Star Voting:

Mogilny: 2 second teams
Kariya: 3 first teams, 2 second teams

 

[frisco]

For starters:

Best Scoring Finishes:

Mogilny: 7, 9, 14, 16
Kariya: 3, 3, 4, 7

Hart voting:

Mogilny: 18
Kariya: 2, 8, 9

All-Star Voting:

Mogilny: 2 second teams
Kariya: 3 first teams, 2 second teams

Even if you go best four seasons, Kariya doesn't really come out on top.

Mogilny 53.4 goals, 100.3 points
Kariya 44.8 goals, 98.5 points

My Best-Carey

 

[Hockey Outsider]

Even if you go best four seasons, Kariya doesn't really come out on top.

Mogilny 53.4 goals, 100.3 points
Kariya 44.8 goals, 98.5 points

My Best-Carey

Mogilny peaked in the early 1990's, when scoring was much higher. If you don't account for that, this method will tell you that Bernie Nicholls peaked higher than Crosby or Ovechkin.

 

[frisco]

Mogilny peaked in the early 1990's, when scoring was much higher. If you don't account for that, this method will tell you that Bernie Nicholls peaked higher than Crosby or Ovechkin.

Kind of losing the original thread purpose, but Nicholls in 1988-89, even adjusted, is slightly higher than Ovechkin or Crosby's best year using Hockey-Reference.

My Best-Carey

 

[tarheelhockey]

Kind of losing the original thread purpose, but Nicholls in 1988-89, even adjusted, is slightly higher than Ovechkin or Crosby's best year using Hockey-Reference.

My Best-Carey

Well yeah… Crosby and Ovechkin didn’t skate with a 28-year-old Hart-winning Wayne Gretzky

 

[tarheelhockey]

I answered the poll before realizing OP was talking only about skill. For pure skill, it’s really close. Mogilny was kind of like a Valeri Kamensky in the sense that he was one of the most purely skilled players in the world as a Soviet, and showed us enough in the NHL to see the superstar potential, but as the years wore on he gradually got less and less effective in an over-physical environment.

If we’re talking overall profile, this is more like Kariya AINEC.

 

[Video Nasty]

Even if you go best four seasons, Kariya doesn't really come out on top.

Mogilny 53.4 goals, 100.3 points
Kariya 44.8 goals, 98.5 points

My Best-Carey

If one guy has scoring finishes of 3, 3, 4, 7 and the other guy has 7, 9, 14, 16, yes, Kariya actually does come out on top.

 

[JackSlater]

Scoring finishes and ward voting don't really tell us who was more skilled unless it's some star vs a plug. Kariya was a better NHL player but skill is very close, possibly Mogilny.