The 2023 NHL Entry draft started with the safe pick, but things quickly spiraled into chaos for the second pick. The Arizona Coyotes joined in the fun, surprising everyone with the selection of Russian defenseman Dmitri Simashev 6th overall.
The #Yotes select Dmitri Simashev sixth overall! #2023NHLDraft
đŸ”—: https://t.co/vhCllerli5 pic.twitter.com/k0953pKI13
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) June 28, 2023
It’s no secret that the Coyotes badly need to improve their blue line, and with the MontrĂ©al Canadiens selecting David Reinbacher fifth, Simashev was the second defenseman drafted.
The 6’4″, 201-pound player was born in Kostroma and spent last split between the KHL and MHL last season. He played 18 games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, 29 games with Loko Yaroslavl, and four games with Loko-76 Yaroslavl. He was most successful in the MHL with Loko Yaroslavl, where he registered a goal and nine assists in the regular season and two goals and four assists in ten playoff games.