Vegas Golden Knights prospect refuses to join the team

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Cooper Godin
June 17, 2024 (10:50)

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

In a press release 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.

Morozov, 24, was drafted by the Golden Knights in the second round in 2018 and after four years in the KHL, he came over to North America, signing a professional tryout contract at the end of the 2021-22 season to join the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights. On the same day, Morozov signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Golden Knights that started in 2022-23.

After spending the entire 2022-23 season in the American Hockey League with Henderson, Morozov was loaned back to Spartak Moscow by the Golden Knights for the 2023-24 campaign.

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

Morozov is set to become a restricted free agent this summer and is arbitration eligible. However with the news that he's signed a two-year contract extension in Russia, he's likely not heading to arbitration with the Golden Knights and it's probably unlikely that he receives a qualifying offer from the team later this month.

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