Buffalo used their initial slot to take 17‑year‑old forward Ilia Morozov, twentieth pick in the NHL Draft. He played last season as a center at Miami University in Ohio, in the NCAA.
The club hopes his two‑way style will give the forward line more depth. Scouts liked his size and his glide, and several teams talked about him on draft day. This is the Sabres’ another first‑round forward in ten years. Morozov will sign his entry‑level deal the upcoming month and will report to the development camp in September.