Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In the days leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, WGR will provide profiles on some players that could be available for the Sabres with the 20th overall pick in the first round.
Despite playing as the youngest player in all of college hockey this past season, Ilia Morozov did not look one bit out of place playing at the collegiate level with the RedHawks of Miami University (OH).
After growing up in Moskva, Russia, Morozov ended up making the jump to North America as a 15-year-old to continue his development in the United States. After then playing his Year 16 development year in the United States Hockey League with the Tri-City Storm, Morozov ended up making the decision to play college hockey as a Freshman in Oxford, Ohio.
Being a young 17-year-old with an August birthday, Morozov was able to handle the physicality of college hockey very well, thanks to his mature 6-foot-3 and 205-pound frame. He ended up producing a respectable eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 36 games played.
Morozov is strong and physical beyond his years, and certainly plays like it. He utilizes his frame to his advantage in order to outmuscle his opposition for loose pucks, in puck battles along the boards, and also as he powers his way to the net for a scoring chance.
Knowing he's got the strength behind him, Morozov puts his head down and uses his speed and power to command the ice, especially in the offensive end. He can go to the net and position himself in front for a tip or rebound, or straight up take the puck hard to the goal and crash the net for a chance. While Morozov is not blazing fast, he's a bear to handle once he hits his top speed.
Morozov's size also helps him generate power in his shot. While he's not going to blow a hole through the net with his shot, he can get into a puck from his off wing. He also has the strength to get into his wrist and snap shots and pick where he wants to put the puck.
Not only is Morozov a key piece up front offensively, he's reliable and solid in his own end to warrant ice-time on the penalty kill and any other defensive situation throughout the course of a game. He has a good long reach to break up passing plays, can win battles and kill off opposing attempts, and is positionally solid to not put himself in any kind of predicament.
Where Morozov may not be viewed as a higher up prospect is due to being seen more so a middle-six, two-way center, and his production on a RedHawks team that was .500 on the season and doesn't have not a lot of great talent around him.
Despite that, Morozov will certainly go off the board as a first-round pick, but the question will be where on the board? Does a team value him as one of the top forwards of the group, or does he slide maybe due to some defensemen being valued ahead of him?
If he slides down the board, there will be team salivating to take a player like Morozov that may be ready to make the jump to the pros after another year of playing college hockey. And if Morozov can be even more productive and help carry the RedHawks to greater success this year, that'll bode even better for him and the team that selects him.
