By MIKE ZEISBERGER 

PHILADELPHIA --  Normally sporting a mischievous grin whenever he finds himself kibitzing with reporters, Alexander Mogilny grimaces whenever the subject of his approaching milestones come up.

Like the grey flecks sprinkled through his closely-shorn hair, those impending records only serve as a reminder of his veteran status in the National Hockey League.

Or, in Mogilny's own unique words: "They're just an indication of how long I've been around and what an old man I've become."

However, the Maple Leafs are not yet clamouring to acquire a wheel chair to transport their star forward and his creaky 33-year-year old bones around the dressing room.

Thanks in part to his encouraging start to the 2002-03 season, Mogilny finds himself within range of some prestigious career marks.

As he stepped on to the First Union Centre ice last night for the Leafs-Flyers tilt, Mogilny needed:

- Three assists for 500 in his career.

- 68 goals to reach the magical 500 mark.

- 71 points for 1,000.

The 500-goal plateau intrigues Mogilny, especially after Burnaby, B.C., native Joe Sakic accomplished the feat against the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday night. But it is not a subject that weighs heavily on his mind these days.

"Five hundred goals and 1,000 points are impressive but you can't worry about those things," Mogilny said. "The more you think about it, it just drives you nuts. If it happens, great. If not, life goes on.

"In the end, nothing, not even records, can equate to winning the Stanley Cup (with New Jersey in 2000). That was the best, especially when you go through all the bumps and bruises to get to the top of the hockey world. I cherish that.

"Heck, I never dreamed my career would get to this point. It has been wonderful, a real blast."