Round 1, Pick 20: C Ilia Morozov

[dudacek]

3 hours ago, Derrico said:

But now we’re investing a first round pick which comes with all of the risk and timeline to development for what sounds like is best case scenario 3rd line C.  I would have just rather traded the pick for a third line C if that’s what we’re doing.  

I think maybe a simpler way of saying what I was trying to say is: the Sabres took Morozov because they think he will become a better player than anyone else available.

[Richard Noggin]

On 6/26/2026 at 10:15 PM, Doohickie said:

his 17 pull-ups tied him for fifth-best all-time in that event.

So he's no Casey Mittelstadt.

Or fake rough guy Sam Bennett. 

[The Jokeman]

3 hours ago, dudacek said:

I think maybe a simpler way of saying what I was trying to say is: the Sabres took Morozov because they think he will become a better player than anyone else available.

Jarmo liked Russians when with Columbus no shock he likes em here too.

[Curt]

7 hours ago, Taro T said:

But pretty sure, that's backwards.  The FLOOR is true 3C and the ceiling could be Peca / CuBro.  A defensive stallworth that can bring some offense too giving them a ton of flexibility on how to deploy the other C's at the top of the lineup.

I like the pick just fine, but the floor is definitely a guy who never sniffs the NHL.

Just looking back over their old pre draft stats, both Peca and Brown were putting up significant offensive production compared to Morozov.  It would seem very statistically unlikely that Morozov develops into a player that consistently produces 40+ points.

Much more likely he ends up something like this group:

Ryan Poehling, Jack Roslovic, Jason Dickinson, Scott Laughton, Riley Sheahan, Lars Eller

This is the group of guys I found who were Centers taken in the mid-late 1st round, who had good size, were viewed at good defensive C’s from the start, and did not have standout offensive production pre draft.  I sort of cheated with Eller, as he did produce but it was only Swedish U20 league, so that might be close to Morozov’s ceiling.

Good news is that looking through guys who met that criteria (there are not that many), I saw very few busts.  It seems like the odds are something like 30%-good 3C, 40%-low end 3C/4C, 30%-bust.

With that said, it’s not for me to define what a player can/can’t accomplish.  Who knows.

[FrenchConnection44]

I think with this kid's size (6'3, 200-205) and being only 17 (turning 18 in August), he could turn out to be a really solid defensive center. Match up with the other team's top offensive center and create issues for them. Also could be an asset both shorthanded and even on the powerplay with his physicality to clog the front of the net. There's a lot more to see from him. Let's see how big and fast he is when he's 19/20. With the right work ethic, he's got potential. And, right now, potential is all there is for all these kids. 

[Porous Five Hole]

32 minutes ago, Curt said:

I like the pick just fine, but the floor is definitely a guy who never sniffs the NHL.

Just looking back over their old pre draft stats, both Peca and Brown were putting up significant offensive production compared to Morozov.  It would seem very statistically unlikely that Morozov develops into a player that consistently produces 40+ points.

Much more likely he ends up something like this group:

Ryan Poehling, Jack Roslovic, Jason Dickinson, Scott Laughton, Riley Sheahan, Lars Eller

This is the group of guys I found who were Centers taken in the mid-late 1st round, who had good size, were viewed at good defensive C’s from the start, and did not have standout offensive production pre draft.  I sort of cheated with Eller, as he did produce but it was only Swedish U20 league, so that might be close to Morozov’s ceiling.

Good news is that looking through guys who met that criteria (there are not that many), I saw very few busts.  It seems like the odds are something like 30%-good 3C, 40%-low end 3C/4C, 30%-bust.

With that said, it’s not for me to define what a player can/can’t accomplish.  Who knows.

 

11 minutes ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

I think with this kid's size (6'3, 200-205) and being only 17 (turning 18 in August), he could turn out to be a really solid defensive center. Match up with the other team's top offensive center and create issues for them. Also could be an asset both shorthanded and even on the powerplay with his physicality to clog the front of the net. There's a lot more to see from him. Let's see how big and fast he is when he's 19/20. With the right work ethic, he's got potential. And, right now, potential is all there is for all these kids. 

The nhl draft is so great because one guy could say, “the floor is definitely a guy who never sniffs the NHL” and another guy could say, “he could turn out to be a really solid defensive center. Match up with the other team's top offensive center and create issues for them.” 
Just a fun exercise.
I can speak for myself when I say I’ve seen zero games of any of these guys.  But I’m loving every minute of the conversation.  

[Pimlach]

18 hours ago, dudacek said:

The missing element here is how the NHL draft actually works, and likelihood of players picked outside the top 10 turning into top line talent.

50-60 players out of the 200+ picked will make the NHL and 10-12 will have an impact.

Pick 20 in the NHL draft is probably equivalent to a 3rd rounder in the NFL draft.

Closer to NFL 4th rounders actually.   

[Hoss]

44 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Closer to NFL 4th rounders actually.   

Is it actually or just vibes?

[PromoTheRobot]

😂😂😂😂😂

 

[K-9]

Just caught his college coach’s interview on SabresLive and suffice to say, this kid is a heckuva story. In a few years, I predict we will be extremely happy we selected him at 20. Seems like everything you could want in a player. 

[dudacek]

2 hours ago, K-9 said:

Just caught his college coach’s interview on SabresLive and suffice to say, this kid is a heckuva story. In a few years, I predict we will be extremely happy we selected him at 20. Seems like everything you could want in a player. 

Only know what I’ve read about him as a player, but as a story so easy to root for.

The opposite the helicopter-parented entitled USNDTP stereotype too many hockey players have become.

Edited June 29 by dudacek

[LGR4GM]

3 hours ago, K-9 said:

Just caught his college coach’s interview on SabresLive and suffice to say, this kid is a heckuva story. In a few years, I predict we will be extremely happy we selected him at 20. Seems like everything you could want in a player. 

 

[LGR4GM]

ok the Miami coach is just fun to listen to. 

[LGR4GM]

Morozov will be a 2nd line NHL center, CALLING IT NOW!

[Derrico]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Morozov will be a 2nd line NHL center, CALLING IT NOW!

#remindmein4years

[dudacek]

Probably doesn't mean much but it might soothe a few people concerned about Morozov's production.

• Matt Boldy put up 26 points in 34 college games as a college freshman at 18
• Ilia put up 20 points in 36 college games as a college freshman at 17

Something to consider.

[LGR4GM]

Morozov was ranked 152 out of 156 players on the infamous Pronman list. At this time that actually doesn't seem inappropriate but I have faith in Morozov to be higher up most lists by next offseason. Even for 2026 he will be playing a level above for his age, a lot of NCAA guys are 19 in their first yr (although with NIL and NCAA changes, that is shifting) and Morozov will be 18 this season, just turned.