Valentin Morozov

Did You Know?

• Valentin Morozov is the older brother of Ak Bars Kazan forward Aleksey Morozov.
• Aleksey Morozov was also drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the first round (24th overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Valentin Morozov was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the sixth round, 154th overall, of the 1994 NHL entry draft. After being drafted, he remained in Russia and played four seasons with CSKA Moscow. Following the 1996-97 season, Morozov left CSKA Moscow and signed with Krylia Sovetov. In the summer of 1998, he received a training camp invitation from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Morozov was among the final cuts from Penguins training camp and was assigned on September 27 to the Penguins' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, where he wore jersey number 15. He finished the season with 17 goals and 40 points in 63 games, but also recorded a plus/minus of -40, the lowest among all Crunch players. The following summer, Morozov was invited back to Pittsburgh Penguins training camp. After several weeks, he was reassigned to the Penguins' new AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, changing his jersey number from 15 to 21. In 59 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he scored 39 points, the fourth-highest total among Penguins forwards that season. After two seasons in North America, Morozov decided to return to Russia. For the 2000-01 season, he played with Lada Togliatti, recording four points in nineteen games. In 2001-02, he split time between the Russian Super League and the Pervaya Liga, returning to the Central Red Army team for 18 games (4 goals, 4 assists) and playing one game with Ufa Salavat Yulayev. While in the Pervaya Liga, he split time between Severstal-2 Cherepovets and the Central Red Army team. Morozov spent the 2002-03 season with Khimik Voskresensk of the Vysshaya Liga, scoring 20 points in 24 games. He played his final season splitting time between Krylia Sovetov's Vysshaya Liga team and their Pervaya Liga team.