Mogilny defected from Soviet Union in 1989 to North America, with the help of Buffalo Sabres representatives, who had previously drafted him 89th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. The move paid off, as in his fourth North American season, Mogilny exploded, posting a career-high 76 goals and adding 51 assists, en route to a 127 points campaign. He became the first Russian player to lead the NHL in goals scored, an honour he shared with rookie Teemu Selänne.