Behind the Scenes in Buffalo with Ilia Morozov

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When Ilia Morozov heard his name called as the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the first thought that went through the 17-year-old center's mind was one simple word.

"Finally!"

Obviously, Morozov's selection by the Buffalo Sabres marked the fulfillment of a childhood dream that millions of hockey players envision when they first put on skates and pick up a stick.

But Morozov's immediate reaction on June 26 had less to do with his lifelong hockey journey and more to do with that specific evening at the Sabres' home arena in Buffalo.

"I was really tired sitting there because I was sitting for about three hours," Morozov laughed later. "I was like, 'Yeah, finally, let's go!'...

"It's just waiting for a team to call your name so you know what organization you're going to join or where you're going to live...it's pretty exciting."

Morozov got an extended sneak peek of his potential future hometown over the past month, as he spent 16 total days in Buffalo between the NHL's pre-draft Scouting Combine (May 31-June 6), the draft itself and then the Sabres' development camp (June 29-July 2).

The highest draft pick in Miami Hockey history recently recapped his whirlwind June with MiamiRedHawks.com, and here are some of the things we learned about Morozov's experience...

Getting a grip
Morozov took the combine by storm (and continued to help his draft stock in the process), putting up remarkable scores in a variety of different physical tests. He finished among the top-10 prospects in a half-dozen categories, including completing 17 pull-ups and posting an average grip strength of 182.5. Both of those marks rank among the top five in combine history.

Ilia Morozov at the 2026 NHL Draft

There was no set dress code for the combine, so Morozov said he took the opportunity to wear Miami gear and represent the Red and White at every opportunity.

Part of the event included NHL franchises meeting Morozov for interviews to get to know him better. He referenced fellow Russian Evgeni Malkin in his response when one team asked, "When you're done with your NHL career, what do you want to be remembered for?"

"I said, 'We all know Malkin, but we don't remember him for the three Stanley Cups. We remember the way he plays the game: How unique his style is.'

"That's what I want to be remembered for," Morozov answered.

New York, New York
When his family arrived in the United States ahead of the draft, Morozov was able to enjoy some sightseeing time with them in New York City before heading to Buffalo. It was Morozov's first time in the Big Apple, and he enjoyed getting to see the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, a museum, Central Park and, of course, the view from a skyscraper's 100th floor.
Ilia Morozov at NHL Draft

Red-carpet reactions
Draft night in Buffalo felt like a big-time event (especially when pop superstar Justin Bieber turned up). Morozov enjoyed the experience of getting off the bus and walking on the red carpet before entering the arena.

"Kids are trying to get your autograph and pictures of you, and they're just screaming your name," Morozov recalled. "Literally everyone knew who I [was] and was just calling for autographs and other stuff."

Watching and waiting
Unlike in some other professional American sports leagues' drafts (such as when Miami Football's Jackson Kuwatch found out this spring he'd been taken by the Panthers), there was no phone call to give Morozov a heads up that his name was about to be read from the platform. He learned his draft destination the same way everyone else in attendance at KeyBank Center —or watching the nationally-televised broadcast at home— did: When former Buffalo Bills legend Thurman Thomas officially announced the pick.

"I was projected in the second half, and I started paying attention around pick 15: 'All right, now I've got to go somewhere,'" Morozov recounted. "There's a little pause before somebody calls the name, and I was getting nervous every time."
Ilia Morozov at the 2026 NHL Draft

Once Morozov's name was announced, the Moscow, Russia native quickly exchanged greetings with his group of family and friends (including his father, mother, sister and girlfriend, his former AAA coach Sam Povorozniouk, Miami head coach Anthony Noreen, teammate Matteo Giampa [who lives 40 miles away in Virgil, Ontario] and Giampa's father) before heading on stage for the first of countless photos.

Hometown hero
Morozov didn't necessarily expect to be picked by the Sabres, as there were several other teams he thought were more interested in him ahead of draft day, but getting selected by the draft's host team was "pretty cool," he smiled later.

"The crowd was way more loud than when any other team picked," Morozov explained. "So that was pretty special.

"Right after I got off the stage, there's an interview where they put you on the couch and give you a microphone, and the whole stadium hears what you're saying. The fans [love seeing] you get drafted into the home team."

'Face' of the franchise?
Some of Morozov's immediate obligations after he exited the platform included an hour's worth of media interviews, Zoom calls, photoshoots and more. As one might imagine for a teenager who loves playing video games, one of the most memorable parts of the process was when Morozov got his face scanned for a future NHL video game.

Ilia Morozov at the 2026 NHL Draft

The Sabres' social media team even had him taste-test the city's famous Buffalo wings and documented the experience on their channels.

"They were a little cold, like they'd just come out of the fridge, so that was kind of funny," Morozov joked.

Camp chronicles
Next up after the draft weekend was the Sabres' development camp, where the team put its newest picks and other potential prospects through several days of on-ice and off-ice workouts.

"We had a crazy schedule," Morozov said.

The hardest part? A sprint bike test on an assault bike. "You go half a mile as fast as you can, get a three-minute rest, and then go half a mile again," Morozov said. "And I've never felt such pain! After the second one, that was insane."

Coming into camp as a first-round pick might seem like a high-pressure situation, but Morozov didn't see it that way. The No. 20 selection benefited from Buffalo having two picks in the first round. "I didn't feel any pressure because we [also] have the fourth overall," Morozov said of future NCHC foe Daxon Rudolph.

"So all the pressure's on him!", he concluded with a laugh.

Meeting Matouš
During the development camp, Morozov also got to connect with 2025 Sabres draftee and future Miami teammate Matouš Kucharcík, who will join him on the RedHawks' roster this season.

"We just talked for a little bit: It's a good thing when you can meet somebody even before coming to Oxford and build some relationship with them before [that]," Morozov said.

"He can produce lots of offense. He can make the plays; he's pretty skilled.

"He's tough, he's got some poise and he's patient. He's a good player."

Representing the RedHawks
Morozov, Kucharcík and the rest of the RedHawks now turn their attention to an exciting 2026-27 Miami Hockey season, which gets underway Oct. 2 at Northern Michigan. Morozov, who put up 20 points last winter (8-12-20), is eager to see what the RedHawks can accomplish as they build on their best season in more than a decade.

Ilia Morozov goal celebration

"I think it's a great opportunity, because this is going to be my second year...I already have that experience, and I know what college hockey looks like," Morozov said.

"I know what I have to be ready for...and I think our team is going to be really good. I'm excited for that as well: To win some big games, some tournaments, and just enjoy hockey."

While his NHL future is certainly bright whenever Morozov eventually moves from college to the pros, his current focus is on living out the mantra that the RedHawks' program has long been known for.

"In the locker room, we have a quote: 'Leave it better than you found it,'" Morozov said as he recapped one of the busiest months of his life. "I think it's going to help a lot to bring this program back and make it even better than it used to be."

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Behind the Scenes in Buffalo with Ilia Morozov

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