Drafted 32nd Overall by the Edmonton Oilers.
A hard working winger, capable of being used in any situation, Mitch Moroz was a key component of the WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings this season. Used mainly in a grinding energy role, Moroz contributed to the Oil Kings success with solid play at both ends of the rink, and through his intangibles of hard work, toughness, grit and leadership. Moroz joins teammates Griffin Reinhart and Henrik Samuelsson as Oil Kings we have ranked so far. We’ve also given Moroz bonus points for the absolutely fabulous mustache.
Left Wing
Born May 3 1994 — Calgary, Alberta
Height 6’1.75″ — Weight 208 lbs — Shoots Left
| 2011-12 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 66 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 131 | 5 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 24 |
Moroz plays an extremely gritty and hardworking game. He is always involved in battling for the puck along the boards and in throwing his weight around in doing so. He engages in constant physical battles at both ends of the rink. In the offensive end of the rink, if he isn’t near the puck, he can be found in front of the net looking for screens, rebounds, and deflections. His wrist shot is heavy, however he needs some work on the release. He’s also not the most talented stickhandler or playmaker, but rather plays a straightforward north-south game with a physical dimension.
Defensively Moroz is very active. He understands his positioning and his assignments, and comes back hard in the defensive zone. If his man has the puck, he is active in putting a lot of pressure on the opponent and trying to force mistakes. He’s an effective body checker, and pins his man to the boards effectively and efficiently. A pure team first guy, Moroz is not afraid to do whatever it takes including laying out for shot blocks in his end of the rink. Moroz is also a capable fighter and is always willing to stand up for a teammate.
Moroz has above average skating ability for a guy his size. He has good top end speed, but could stand to work on his acceleration. He has good balance, and is strong on his skates, making him difficult to knock off the puck when playing the cycle game. Moroz also possesses good agility and strong edgework, and his skating is something that will certainly help him reach the next level.
While its inaccurate to describe any player we have ranked this low (a third rounder at this point) as a “safe” pick, we do feel that the probability Moroz makes the NHL is higher than this ranking normally would inadequate. Unfortunately though the upside for Moroz is quite limited as we just don’t see top line potential. Instead we see his max potential as a valuable grinder on the third and fourth lines of a hockey club, someone similar to Travis Moen of the Montreal Canadiens.
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