If the Penguins are looking for a big, two-way center in this weekend's NHL Draft, Ilia Morozov might be hard to ignore at No. 22 overall.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound center spent this season playing top-line minutes for Miami University as a 17-year-old freshman, finishing with eight goals and 12 assists in 36 games as a key part of one of the biggest turnarounds in college hockey. Miami improved from just three wins the previous season to an 18-12-12 record, and Morozov's ability to contribute on both sides of the ice was a big reason for that.
"He is as responsible in his own end as he is offensively," NHL Central Scouting's Pat Cullen told NHL.com. "He can create offense, he can shoot it. His size, he plays very physical. He's your definition of a two-way centerman. ... He's a guy they can use as a shutdown center if they need. Really responsible in his own end of the rink. He doesn't cheat, he plays an honest game. Sometimes kids at that age are cheating to create offense. You never see that for him. I think he'll grow offensively a little more."
Morozov's had an interesting path that has led to him playing college hockey in Ohio. Born in Moscow, he moved to North America as a teenager with the goal of furthering his hockey career and learning English. He spent the 2023-24 season playing 15U AAA hockey just outside of Chicago, where he scored 74 points (33 goals, 41 assists) in 49 games. He moved to Tri-City of the USHL the following season, putting up 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 59 games at 16 years old. He moved onto Miami University's campus later that season as a 16-year old to help himself get acclimated before making the jump to college hockey at 17.
Morozov seemed to benefit from the head start at living in North America. His English is pretty perfect, and he's in a pretty challenging major in finance. He also fared pretty well playing against bigger, stronger players in college hockey at his age.
"That was harder than in the USHL," Morozov told reporters at the scouting combine earlier this month. "I had to adjust. But I think I'm strong enough to handle that. ... I played a lot, I had a really good year."
The offensive ceiling is the biggest question with Morozov. His 20 points in 36 games was impressive for one of the youngest players in college hockey, but teams meeting with Morozov at the combine wondered how much of that could eventually translate to the professional level. Morozov will almost surely return to Miami for at least another season, and it'll be interesting to see the steps he's able to take offensively in his sophomore season.
Offense aside, there's a lot to like about Morozov's game. He's big, defensively responsible, someone that can be trusted in any situation.
The Penguins have some pretty good young centers in the organization in Ben Kindel, Will Horcoff, Bill Zonnon and Tristan Broz, but there's a pretty big drop-off from there. Teams generally don't draft based on position beyond perhaps the first few picks of the first round, but regardless, it's not like the Penguins couldn't use a few more high-end centers coming up.
THE ASYLUM
Draft profiles: Morozov a two-way center
If the Penguins are looking for a big, two-way center in this weekend's NHL Draft, Ilia Morozov might be hard to ignore at No. 22 overall.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound center spent this season playing top-line minutes for Miami University as a 17-year-old freshman, finishing with eight goals and 12 assists in 36 games as a key part of one of the biggest turnarounds in college hockey. Miami improved from just three wins the previous season to an 18-12-12 record, and Morozov's ability to contribute on both sides of the ice was a big reason for that.
"He is as responsible in his own end as he is offensively," NHL Central Scouting's Pat Cullen told NHL.com. "He can create offense, he can shoot it. His size, he plays very physical. He's your definition of a two-way centerman. ... He's a guy they can use as a shutdown center if they need. Really responsible in his own end of the rink. He doesn't cheat, he plays an honest game. Sometimes kids at that age are cheating to create offense. You never see that for him. I think he'll grow offensively a little more."
Morozov's had an interesting path that has led to him playing college hockey in Ohio. Born in Moscow, he moved to North America as a teenager with the goal of furthering his hockey career and learning English. He spent the 2023-24 season playing 15U AAA hockey just outside of Chicago, where he scored 74 points (33 goals, 41 assists) in 49 games. He moved to Tri-City of the USHL the following season, putting up 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 59 games at 16 years old. He moved onto Miami University's campus later that season as a 16-year old to help himself get acclimated before making the jump to college hockey at 17.
Morozov seemed to benefit from the head start at living in North America. His English is pretty perfect, and he's in a pretty challenging major in finance. He also fared pretty well playing against bigger, stronger players in college hockey at his age.
"That was harder than in the USHL," Morozov told reporters at the scouting combine earlier this month. "I had to adjust. But I think I'm strong enough to handle that. ... I played a lot, I had a really good year."
The offensive ceiling is the biggest question with Morozov. His 20 points in 36 games was impressive for one of the youngest players in college hockey, but teams meeting with Morozov at the combine wondered how much of that could eventually translate to the professional level. Morozov will almost surely return to Miami for at least another season, and it'll be interesting to see the steps he's able to take offensively in his sophomore season.
Offense aside, there's a lot to like about Morozov's game. He's big, defensively responsible, someone that can be trusted in any situation.
The Penguins have some pretty good young centers in the organization in Ben Kindel, Will Horcoff, Bill Zonnon and Tristan Broz, but there's a pretty big drop-off from there. Teams generally don't draft based on position beyond perhaps the first few picks of the first round, but regardless, it's not like the Penguins couldn't use a few more high-end centers coming up.
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