It's About Time - Vancouver Canucks Legend Officially Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

As the offseason begins in the National Hockey League, with focus on the Entry Draft and the start of free agency, there's always one day that fans circle on their calendar every June, that being the announcement of the Hall of Fame class.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hockey Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald and Ron Francis announced eight new members that'll be inducted this fall, including a former Vancouver Canuck who has been waiting over a decade and a half for his opportunity.

After 16 years of eligibility, the Hockey Hall of Fame revealed today that former Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexander Mogilny is now an honoured member and will be inducted later this year.

Lanny McDonald and Ron Francis called Alexander Mogilny, where it was 3 am at his home in Russia, and the former Canuck was happy to finally hear the news.

Mogilny was drafted in the fifth round by the Buffalo Sabres back in 1988 and had a very difficult path to the National Hockey League and North America in general.

In 1989, Mogilny became the first NHL draftee from the Soviet Union to defect in order to pursue his dream of playing in the league after leaving at the end of the World Championship in Sweden and boarded a plane for North America.

Mogilny spent the first six years of his National Hockey League career with the Buffalo Sabres before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in July 1995 as part of the Michael Peca deal.

During his time with the Vancouver Canucks, which lasted parts of five seasons, the Khabarovsk, Russia native registered 308 points (139 goals, 169 assists), along with 144 penalty minutes and was a plus-24.

Before the trade deadline in March, the Canucks dealt Mogilny to the New Jersey Devils, where he'd go on to win the Stanley Cup, appeared in 121 games for them over two stints, along with 176 games during three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Along with Alexander Mogilny, this year's Hockey Hall of Fame class includes Joe Thornton, Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Jennifer Botterill, Brianna Decker, along with Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau in the Builder's category.