Vegas Golden Knights prospect signs contract with new team, won't return

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Josh Tupper
June 17, 2024 (11:06)

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Vegas Golden Knights prospect Ivan Morozov has made the decision to not return to North American this summer and has signed a contract extension in his home country.

In a statement on their website, KHL club Spartak Moscow announced that they've agreed to terms on a two-year extension with Vegas Golden Knights prospect Ivan Morozov.

The following quote was translated from Russian.

"HC "Spartak" Moscow has concluded a two-year contract with Ivan Morozov - the agreement with the leading center of our team was signed until 2026! In his first season for Spartak Moscow, 24-year-old Morozov (185 cm, 94 kg) became the most important part of a bright and unforgettable trio with Goldobin and Poryadin - Ivan was selected for the first time to participate in the KHL All-Star Game, scored 46 (14+32) points in 48 matches with a utility indicator of «+16» and 55% of face-offs won. We wish Ivan Morozov good health, new achievements and many big victories as part of the Moscow Spartak!" The team said.

After spending four years in the KHL, Morozov, 24, was picked by the Golden Knights in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft. He then traveled to North America and signed a professional tryout deal to play for the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL at the end of the 2021�2022 season. The Golden Knights signed Morozov to an entry-level two-year deal that would begin in 2022�23 on the same day.

The Golden Knights loaned Morozov back to Spartak Moscow for the 2023�24 season after he played with Henderson in the American Hockey League for the whole 2022�23 season.

The Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia native scored 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists), accrued 26 penalty minutes, and was a plus-12 in 37 games for Spartak Moscow this season. In the Gagarin Cup Playoffs, he followed that up with eight points in 11 games.

This summer, Morozov will be a restricted free agent and be eligible for arbitration. The Golden Knights are unlikely to send him to arbitration, and it's unclear that he will receive a qualifying offer from them later this month, given the revelation that he inked a two-year contract extension in Russia.

Source: Spartak Moscow
Spartak signed a two-year contract with Ivan Morozov