The Buffalo Sabres continued adding to their future Friday night, selecting forward Ilia Morozov with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Yankees lose third straight to Red Sox Morozov arrives in Buffalo after an impressive freshman season at Miami University (Ohio), where he recorded 20 points on eight goals and 12 assists in 36 games despite entering the year as the youngest player in NCAA Division I hockey.
The 6-foot-2 center is regarded as one of the draft’s top two-way forwards, earning the No. 10 ranking among North American skaters from NHL Central Scouting. His game is built around strong skating, high-end hockey sense and a commitment to both ends of the ice. Morozov’s ability to create offense off the rush, win battles in tight areas and consistently make responsible plays away from the puck has made him one of the more complete forwards in this year’s class.
His combination of size, skill and defensive awareness has drawn comparisons to established NHL shutdown centers who can contribute offensively while matching up against opponents’ top lines.
Originally from Moscow, Russia, Morozov moved to the United States at 14 years old to pursue his NHL dream. Before beginning his collegiate career at Miami, he developed in the United States Hockey League with the Tri-City Storm.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.