Apr 11, 2025 , 11:47 AM | Updated: 12:39 pm
Black Team defenseman Dmitriy Simashev (26) controls the puck while guarded by White Team defenseman Justin Kipkie (58) during the Utah Hockey Club’s development camp intra-squad scrimmage held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 5, 2024 (Isaac Hale, Deseret News).
(Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
COLE BAGLEY
SALT LAKE CITY – As the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural NHL season comes to a close, the front office will now turn their attention to offseason affairs which includes the draft, free agency and prospect development. While many of their current prospects aren’t quite ready for the NHL, it’s important to understand the timelines, strengths, and areas of improvement for players like Dmitriy Simashev.
Simashev is a 19-year-old defenseman from Kostroma, Russia.
Before being called up to the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl squad, the talented defenseman spent several seasons in the MHL (Russia’s top junior league) with Loko Yaroslavl.
He then made his professional debut with Lokomotiv during the 2022-23 season.
While Simashev hasn’t been a high-level producer offensively, his size, defensive skillset and impressive skating abilities are what caught the attention of the Arizona Coyotes in 2023 as they selected him with the No. 6 pick.
After being drafted, he then returned to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl where he’s spent the last few seasons.
There’s a very strong argument that Simashev was the best defensive player taken in the 2023 NHL draft.
With his 6-foot-5 frame and elite skating abilities, it’s easy to understand why the organization snatched him as an early first-round pick.
While his size is notable and certainly makes him a fierce defenseman, it’s his skating, edgework, initial steps and top speed that makes him such an elite prospect.
“The elite quality of him is his skating ability,” General Manager Bill Armstrong told KSL Sports. “His agility is the elite of the elite…so, he is someone that we get truly excited about.”
Playing in the KHL for a top team like Lokomotiv, defense and physicality has been the emphasis for Simashev as he absolutely smothers opposing forwards with his stick, shot blocking and winning most one on one battles.
While the team has steered him away from offensive contributions based on their style of play, he thrives on the penalty kill and providing sound defensive coverage.
For any KHL player making the move to North America, there’s generally a sizable adjustment to the speed of the NHL.
Additionally, Simashev has not been asked to contribute offensively for Lokomotiv which has been reflected in just six points through 56 appearances this season.
That will need to change quickly.
Does he have offensive instincts and capabilities? Absolutely.
But he’ll need to rediscover those as he plays in the NHL.
As a former 2023 draft pick, Simashev has put in the necessary work to prepare him for North American hockey, and he’s expected to see NHL minutes this next season.
As previously mentioned however, if the adjustment is a little more difficult for him, it’s very possible he could see some time in the AHL for a softer transition.
Once Simashev makes the NHL roster, he’ll likely see time on the third defensive pairing with chances to move up as he continues to develop.
The Utah Hockey Club will now face the Dallas Stars on Saturday night at American Airlines Center. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
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