Интервью с Александром Могильным
(1999 год. С сайта www.euroreport.com)
Chung: You played for the Soviet Union at the 1988 and 1989 World
Junior Championships. You were selected the top forward at the '88 tournament
and then played on a line with Pavel Bure and Sergei Fedorov in '89. What
does it mean for you to have an underdog team like Team Russia capture
gold at the 1999 World Junior Championship?
Mogilny: I was happy for them, you know. I was happy for the Russians
and happy for the kids especially because everyone's been saying that hockey
has gone downhill in Russia. But they proved that they're still one of
the best in the world. I was very happy for them.
Chung: Do you agree with people who say that the current state of
the Russian Ice Hockey Federation has failed to produce - and keep - the
skilled players of ten years ago?
Mogilny: Well, the kids there are trying to come out here and play
in the [North American] juniors and minors. Personally, I think it's wrong,
but it's their decision. There are lots of kids leaving Russia to play
in North America or Europe, and I don't think that's very good, but as
I said, it's their decision.
Chung: Are you still involved in Russian hockey? Do you go back frequently?
Mogilny: I don't go back very often, actually. I guess I don't feel
a major connection there. But I played [for the Soviet Union] in the 1988
Olympics and it was a great experience. I'll never forget it. But then
again, it was a long time ago.
Chung: Having said that, what were your feelings about playing for
Team Russia at the 1996 World Cup since that was your last international
competition?
Mogilny: It was fun, but it really wasn't quite the same. I probably
wouldn't do it again.
Chung: Why?
Mogilny: I think there are plenty of talented young [Russian] players
out there and I think my time has passed. I'm over the hill for that. [Laughs]
Chung: Well, you'll be 30 on February 18. Do you feel old?
Mogilny: [Laughs] No I don't, but I feel that it's all in the past
and I've moved on. I don't want to take someone else's spot - there are
good players out there who deserve the chance to play for Russia. I feel
like there are very talented players who should be playing and I just don't
want to get in their way.
Chung: Let's talk about the team and your injury-riddled year so
far. It was just two years ago [in 1996-96] that you scored 55 goals.
Mogilny: Yeah, those kind of things happen, where injuries and circumstances
affect the way you're playing. I may be slowing down a little bit … we're
having a tough time, tough year right now. Unfortunately, all my injuries
happened so early [this season]. It was bad timing because I thought I
was playing some of my best hockey this year, but then I got injured and
I was out for so long. It just threw me back on my heels, and I'm still
recovering.
Chung: How has it been like under Marc Crawford so far? How does
he compare to Mike Keenan?
Mogilny: Well, they're both good coaches and they both won the Cup.
Marc is a little different from Mike, but you know, I didn't have a problem
with Mike. I liked Mike and I liked what he did, but some people didn't.
I like Marc too, he's doing a good job so far. But you know, it's not the
coaches who are going out there to play - it's us, the players. Everybody
works hard but sometimes the execution is not there, we're not finishing
up. That's what gets you down and that's how you lose the games.
Chung: It's been said that your former coach in Buffalo, John Muckler
[now with the Rangers], didn't like you very much and that you two didn't
get along. Any comments?
Mogilny: I wouldn't say so, no. I saw John the other day and it was
fine. That's just what people thought and what the papers said, but that's
not the case. I totally disagree with that, really. Maybe it was a stage
in my career - six years in Buffalo - where it was a good time for me to
move on. It really was good for both sides, for both teams [that the trade
happened], and I'm not sorry at all. I enjoyed my six years [in Buffalo].
I have no regrets.
Chung: It's also been said that you played your best hockey under
former Canucks coach Rick Ley [who coached for parts of the 1994-95 and
1995-96 seasons].
Mogilny: [Pause] Rick Ley … you know, there have been so many coaches
that it took awhile for me to recognize that name. [In Alex's four years
with Vancouver, he's been coached by Rick Ley, Pat Quinn, Tom Renney, Mike
Keenan, and now Marc Crawford.] Rick was a good coach, you know. It was
just another situation where we weren't successful and the coach got fired
- that's another sad story, you know. You know, it's not usually the coach
who's at fault. We had a different team back then and that makes a difference
too.
Chung: Any comments on the Pavel Bure trade?
Mogilny: It was good for him. The situation was such that he wanted
to get out and move on, and I totally understand that. I think he's very
happy where he is right now and I think it's great. Some guys need a fresh
start. When you've been in one city for so long, especially for a superstar
like him, the town gets too small - people talk, you know. I think he made
the right decision and he got what he wanted, so I'm happy for him.
Chung: What were your experiences being in Buffalo and then Vancouver,
two cities that love their hockey?
Mogilny: Well, I don't really care for the media or the papers, to
be honest. Buffalo is a small little town and Vancouver is much bigger
- especially in Canada, where hockey is the number one sport. You're always
under the microscope.
