Ilia Morozov
2025-26 Team: Miami RedHawks (NCAA)
Date of Birth: Aug. 3, 2008
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Ht: 6-foot-3 Wt: 205 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Center
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Rankings
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.
Related: THW’s 2026 NHL Draft Guide
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.
The top-line center likely would have finished with more points if not for Miami’s struggles on the power play, especially in the second half of the season. The team finished at just 12.1% with 17 goals on 140 attempts, ranking near the bottom of college hockey. Morozov still contributed three power-play goals and one game-winning goal. He also went through a long goal-scoring drought from Nov. 29 vs RIT to Feb. 28 at Omaha, but even during that stretch, every game remained filled with scouts watching him, and he continued to impress each night.
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.
Morozov uses his long reach and physicality to his advantage in the faceoff circle, leading the team with 326 wins while taking the most draws by a wide margin. He struggled at times against top faceoff teams like North Dakota and Western Michigan, usually in the 40 to 50% range, but showed clear growth as the season went on. Late in the season, he posted strong numbers, including 64.3% and 52.9% against Denver in the NCHC Quarterfinals. Faceoff consistency remains an area to improve, but the progression over the season against the best faceoff teams in the country was impressive.
At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, and still growing, he consistently wins board battles with strength and effort. Morozov is strong enough to push players off pucks and long enough to disrupt passing lanes. While not the fastest skater, Morozov covers ground well and often draws penalties by protecting the puck. His overall style reminds me a little of Leon Draisaitl, whom he said he likes to model his game after, along with Aleksander Barkov and Evgeni Malkin.
Defensively, Morozov is very sound. He backchecks hard, stays in position, and plays a low-risk, reliable game. He is willing to block shots and play physically, finishing with 23 blocked shots, second among forwards. His long stick helps break up passes, force takeaways, and win puck battles consistently. His two-way game stands out as a major strength, and head coach Anthony Noreen said throughout the season that Morozov has the highest floor of any player he has coached, which perfectly describes the kind of player he is.
Ilia Morozov – NHL Draft Projection
Morozov is a 200-foot prospect I would take inside the top 20. His mix of size, two-way reliability, and the responsibility he handled as a 17-year-old freshman in the NCHC is hard to ignore. Miami’s coaching staff did not ease him in this season — he was trusted with top-six minutes and essentially all situations, so I am putting him in the 15-25 range.
Other THW Profiles
Quotables
“Morozov is another college freshman who has really impressed me. There were wonders if he would look out of place in the USHL straight out of 15U. He didn’t. Now, he looks right at home in a 20+ minute-a-night role in college. It’s an incredible feat, especially for a player who entered the year as college’s youngest player (now Oscar Hemming). Morozov earns his minutes with a reliable and consistent impact on both sides of the puck. Every shift, he can be trusted to fill his role on the flanks, explode down the boards if he gets the puck, and fight strong in his puck battles. He clears out the slot on one end, and drives straight to the crease in the other.” – Gabriel Foley
“It is not like he is just an offensive guy who is a liability defensively. We have never felt that. His two-way game is his biggest strength, and we still feel like there is a ton of offensive upside. What you love is that he is willing and capable of playing in every situation. Three-on-five, he is out there. five-on-six, defensive zone draws, he is out there. We feel comfortable putting him out there against anyone.” – Miami head coach Anthony Noreen
“Just to be playing center at this level, there is so much that goes into that. Sometimes, with a young guy you try to protect him and put him on the wing. We never doubted him at center for a second. He earned that.” – Miami head coach Noreen
Strengths
- Size
- Versatility
- Work ethic
- Hockey IQ/low-risk game
- Long reach
- Playmaking
- One-timer
- Penalty killing
- Puck protection
- Defensively sound
Under Construction/Improvements to Make
- Scoring production
- Faceoff consistency
NHL Potential
Morozov should be a second or third-line center at the NHL level. His faceoff ability, two-way play, and defensive reliability allow him to be used in any situation, including power play, even strength, penalty kill, overtime, and late-game scenarios, all qualities of a versatile NHLer.
He has already shown he can play with a wide range of linemates throughout a season, an important trait for a future NHL player. Even if Morozov does not end up putting up huge point totals at the NHL level, his two-way ability and low-risk game should earn him consistent minutes. More scoring consistency will likely come next season as his offensive game continues to develop, which would increase his NHL projection.
Risk/Reward Analysis
Risk – 1/5, Reward 4.5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 8/10, Defense – 8/10
Awards/Achievements
- Districts Cup U14 Bronze Medal
- NCHC Forward of the Week (Oct. 14)
- 2025 Friendship Four Champion
Interviews/Links
Ilia Morozov Statistics
Videos
