Sabres Draft Ilia Morozov 20th Overall 

With the 20th pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres have selected Ilia Morozov from Miami University (Ohio) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 

About Ilia Morozov

Ilia Morozov is an excellent center prospect whose well-rounded game earned him a lot of attention in the NCAA this season. After beginning the season on a torrid scoring pace, Morozov’s production waned a bit as the year progressed, ending up with a respectable 20 points in 36 NCAA games as the third youngest player in the entire league. 

Morozov has the size that teams love in a center, and his skill/shot combo is strong enough to be a legitimate middle-six offensive contributor in the NHL. His skating could use some work and he isn’t very consistent in the faceoff dot, but those are very workable traits and his development isn’t nearly done as he is one of the youngest players in the 2026 Draft with an August birthday.

While Morozov looked like a potential star in the opening weeks of his NCAA season, his projection is much better aligned with that of a reliable third line center in the NHL, something every team covets.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

“Many wondered why Ilia Morozov jumped to college hockey at just 17 years old when news broke last summer, but the Russian center quickly proved why he belonged. The freshman center was the youngest player in college hockey until Oscar Hemming joined Boston College midseason. He became an important part of Miami University’s turnaround from three wins to 18 in one season with 21 new players, matching the largest non-COVID single-season win jump by any Division I men’s hockey program this century.”

“Morozov finished the season with 20 points, scoring eight goals and adding 12 assists. Nine of those points came in NCHC play, including four against the defending national champion Western Michigan Broncos across two series. The freshman center tied for fifth in team scoring, impressive given the level of competition in the NCHC.”

“Morozov finished third on the team in average time on ice and second among forwards, logging 19:35 per game. For a 17-year-old freshman in the NCHC, that says a lot about the trust he earned. He played on the top two lines all season and was used in every situation: four-on-four, overtime, shootout, and top power play/penalty kill. Even when his offensive production dipped in the second half, he remained reliable and trusted in all situations.” – Matthew Buhrmann

Continue reading the full player profile here

How This Affects the Sabres’ Plans

Ilia Morozov is a great pick here for the Sabres; he’s a massive center prospect who is bound to be a fan favourite, especially considering his excitement playing to the fans in Buffalo after being selected. Morozov was wildly successful at the NHL Draft Combine, placing in the top 10 in many of the events and impressing many teams in the interview portion.

Morozov gives the Sabres a different look in their prospect pool, as a 6-foot-3 center to balance out the small skilled wing/centers that they’ve favoured in the draft in recent years.