2nd video on Simashev: This one is to show his skills with the puck, very good puck handler and good ability to beat players one on one. The shot & the technical passing needs to get better but he’ll get there. He’s only scratching the surface of his potential @ScoutingService pic.twitter.com/Jm4MR9OLga
– JĂ©rĂ´me BĂ©rubĂ© (@Jerome_Berube) June 20, 2023
![Dmitri Simashev: “Exactly the kind of defender the CH needs”.](https://cdn.buminteractif.com/2023/06/Photo-Dimitri-Simashev.jpg)
A “rather unique” defenseman who “the CH could use”.
A giant forward who still has “a baby face”.
Dmitri Simashev and Daniil But are to be taken seriously. But media coverage of them is thin 🇷🇺 #DraftLNH https://t.co/KSW5VHTLwO
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) June 24, 2023
Jérôme Bérubé, Director of HockeyProspect, tells TVA Sports that Simashev is exactly the defenseman the CH would need.
Simashev is a 6’4″ left-handed defenseman who played mostly in the MHL (Russia’s KHL junior league) this season, earning 10 points, including a goal, in 29 games. In the playoffs, Simashev scored two goals and four assists for a total of six points in 10 games.
It’s nothing impressive, but it’s the overall body of work that prompted JĂ©rĂ´me BĂ©rubĂ© to rank Simashev so high.
“He’s a pretty unique defender. There aren’t any 6’4″ guys who skate like he does. Defensemen like that, when you can get them on your team, you don’t trade them.” – JĂ©rĂ´me BĂ©rubĂ©
For HockeyProspect‘s director, there’s no doubt that Simashev is the best defenseman of the 2023 crop.
“Look at the teams in the Canadiens’ division. Buffalo has Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin. Detroit has Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. Ottawa has Jake Sanderson. In short, the Canadiens had better find themselves an elite defenseman!” – JĂ©rĂ´me BĂ©rubĂ©
In short, it now remains to be seen whether the Tricolore will shun Simashev, given that he’s Russian and the only possible analyses in his case come from different videos.
I’d be very surprised if the CH actually selects this defenseman.
To find out more, here’s TVA Sports’ excellent article on two Russian gems flying under the radar.
En Rafale
– Read more.
In today’s #GoHabsGo Daily:
– Consensus Draft rankings for the 5th overall pick.
– A new draft pick probability app.
– The latest Montreal Canadiens Mailbag, including Dubois trade talk, Draft questions, Slafkovsky’s development, & more.Plus NHL news⬇️https://t.co/MrhnknVTQP
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) June 24, 2023
– Columbus will meet with Michkov.
Told #CBJ will meet with top Russian prospect Matvei Michkov in Nashville ahead of the NHL Draft.
See zero chance GM Jarmo Kekalainen drafts Michkov with No. 3 overall pick, but front office staffs want to get to know a prospect they’ve seen almost exclusively on film.– Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 24, 2023
– What are Kyle Dubas’ off-season plans with the Penguins?
Patrick Marleau returns to the #SJSharks in a coaching and front-office role, Kyle Dubas outlines his offseason plans for the #Penguins, the #NJDevils re-sign Erik Haula and more in today’s #NHL Morning Coffee Headlines. https://t.co/7oLTqxp5eA
– Spector’s Hockey (@SpectorsHockey) June 24, 2023
– Wow what a great story.
“In one of the most notable moments in sports history, Kenyan runner Abel Mutai was just a few feet from the finish line, but became confused with the signage and stopped thinking he had completed the race.
A Spanish athlete, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him, and after… pic.twitter.com/yxZr732XF2
– Mohamad Safa (@mhdksafa) June 23, 2023
– Read more.
Major League Baseball | ,400 https://t.co/ju2UGCaqGz
– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) June 24, 2023