LD Dmitry Simashev - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL (2023, 6th, ARI)

[Guadana]

Oh f***ing well Garl, lets deem him a bust and a failure right away then. Different prospects develop differently at different levels. Its almost as if some kids have a harder time transitioning to pro hockey before theyre 20! Who wouldve thought such a thing huh?

If russian don`t play pro in 18, they will never be good pro. They don't have that privilege. Because someone decided somewhere in Internet. It may seem counterintuitive, but these are the criteria, especially for players from Russia, where the best league is after the NHL and it`s harder to play as 18yo.

 

[rt]

If russian don`t play pro in 18, they will never be good pro. They don't have that privilege. Because someone decided somewhere in Internet. It may seem counterintuitive, but these are the criteria, especially for players from Russia, where the best league is after the NHL and it`s harder to play as 18yo.

The 3rd best team in the 2nd best league in the world should prioritize the development of teenagers who will leave the continent permanently in two years anyway. That’s more important than dressing the best veterans who give you the highest chance of success.

I donät call him a bust. But the "not even close" comment was rather silly

Your counter to a claim about his skating is the league he plays in. Is the ice faster in the MHL? It makes no sense. That’s rather silly.

 

[Garl]

You aren’t making sense. None of what you are saying has anything to do with skating.

If you want to switch subjects randomly, that’s fine.

As for KHL/MHL Loko was a special team. They were by far the top team in the MHL standings, having lost only 5 games all season. They were excellent in the playoffs until But got sick and had to sit out, and they lost. Lokomotiv in the KHL was behind only CSKA and SKA among all KHL teams in the standings.

But and Simashev were the two best players on the best MHL team but their KHL team was also a powerhouse and wasn’t playing teenagers regularly.

The 3rd best team in the 2nd best league in the world should prioritize the development of teenagers who will leave the continent permanently in two years anyway. That’s more important than dressing the best veterans who give you the highest chance of success.


Your counter to a claim about his skating is the league he plays in. Is the ice faster in the MHL? It makes no sense. That’s rather silly.

Simashev is a good skater from what I have seen. Probably the best among D-men in this draft. The "not even close" remark is silly.

Victor Hedman is the prototypical big guy that skates very well. When he was 18 he was a top player on a mens team. And here we have a guy who is allegedly much better skater than him but makes around zero impact in comparsion. How is that? He is not underdeveloped either, already 200 lbs.

Simashev is a project, and Arizona made a reach. He has potential, a really good skater, true, but when I see such wild claims that he is better skater than Hedman/Power/Myers and "it is not even close" its just silly hype.

If russian don`t play pro in 18, they will never be good pro. They don't have that privilege. Because someone decided somewhere in Internet. It may seem counterintuitive, but these are the criteria, especially for players from Russia, where the best league is after the NHL and it`s harder to play as 18yo.

Man, sloppy attempt at sarcasm. Maybe, if you will not misrepresent what people say, there will be less drama

 

[Zine]

Simashev is a good skater from what I have seen. Probably the best among D-men in this draft. The "not even close" remark is silly.

Victor Hedman is the prototypical big guy that skates very well. When he was 18 he was a top player on a mens team. And here we have a guy who is allegedly much better skater than him but makes around zero impact in comparsion. How is that? He is not underdeveloped either, already 200 lbs.

Simashev is a project, and Arizona made a reach. He has potential, a really good skater, true, but when I see such wild claims that he is better skater than Hedman/Power/Myers and "it is not even close" its just silly hype.


Man, sloppy attempt at sarcasm. Maybe, if you will not misrepresent what people say, there will be less drama

You seem obsessed with instant gratification and judge players accordingly...aka ."Hedman was a top player at 18, so why isn't Simashev if he's one of the greatest skaters??"

Hockey development isn't that linear. If it was, Konstantin Koltsov wouldve played 20 years in the NHL...as he is one of the greatest skaters I have ever witnessed.
Simashev's insane skating is 1 tool of many that he'll hopefully put all together.

As has been already stated, projection is the key to scouting/player development. 18 year olds may have amazing individual traits, but they are far from finished products. They are all in different stages of their development and are likewise developed in different circumstances.

 

[Boxscore]

Simashev is a project, and Arizona made a reach. He has potential, a really good skater, true, but when I see such wild claims that he is better skater than Hedman/Power/Myers and "it is not even close" its just silly hype.

Agreed. Simashev is an impressive skater and his defensive IQ seems to be excellent. However, his offensive game is nonexistent. Could he develop it at the NHL level? Sure, anything is possible. There have been guys who greatly exceeded expectations offensively like Burns, Phaneuf, Weber, Chara, etc. But if Simashev doesn't end up like them, he could still be a Jay Bouwmeester type, which is a very nice NHL player.

But, make no mistake, when guys like Hedman and Dahlin were drafted, they were projected to be excellent offensive contributors... it just took Hedman a little longer to get comfortable with the role. He also needed to get all that PP1 time, which he didn't early on.

 

[rt]

However, his offensive game is nonexistent...

You’ve selected an apt username.

 

[British yote]

GMBA went on the Bob Mccown podcast and said Simashev is actually 6’7 and not 6’4. I’ve searched everywhere to try and confirm this but found nothing. But if true, with his skating that could make him even more of a force.

Also said that But is 6’8

 

[stevo61]

GMBA went on the Bob Mccown podcast and said Simashev is actually 6’7 and not 6’4. I’ve searched everywhere to try and confirm this but found nothing. But if true, with his skating that could make him even more of a force.

Also said that But is 6’8

Well on the draft stage they were both taller than 6'5" Armstrong so seems believeable to me

 

[Garl]

Well on the draft stage they were both taller than 6'5" Armstrong so seems believeable to me

Unless they have had some growth spurt then no

 

[B17 Apricots]

Man Simashev is just f***ing smooth.. he just got absolutely obliterated though. Hope he's alright

 

[stevo61]

Unless they have had some growth spurt then no

When you stand beside someone who is 6'5" and you are visibly taller then yes, it is reasonable to assume that person is taller than the listed 6'4". I dont know if he looks 6'7" but he is obviously not 6'4" anymore.

 

[Garl]

Well on the draft stage they were both taller than 6'5" Armstrong so seems believeable to me

Simashev looked to be same height as Armstrong. But it can happen that a 18 yo hits a growth spurt, a good example is Simon Edvinsson from Detroit who was 6'4 at the draft and is 6'7 now. But it is rare

 

[majormajor]

I went back and watched Simashev and But getting picked and by my eye Simashev was very similar to BA, maybe an inch taller. So 6'5 or 6'6. And But looked about an inch taller than that, so 6'6 or 6'7. They'll be huge either way.

Simashev looked to be same height as Armstrong. But it can happen that a 18 yo hits a growth spurt, a good example is Simon Edvinsson from Detroit who was 6'4 at the draft and is 6'7 now. But it is rare

I looked into it before and only about 10% of 18 year old boys are still growing in height. But it's a higher proportion among the tallest kids, because it's how many of them got so tall in the first place! Most boys are completely done growing by 17.

 

[Llewzaher]

Man Simashev is just f***ing smooth.. he just got absolutely obliterated though. Hope he's alright?

what Happened?

 

[Realgud]

what Happened?

Got drafted by Arizona

just kidding don't lynch me

 

[rt]

I went back and watched Simashev and But getting picked and by my eye Simashev was very similar to BA, maybe an inch taller. So 6'5 or 6'6. And But looked about an inch taller than that, so 6'6 or 6'7. They'll be huge either way.



I looked into it before and only about 10% of 18 year old boys are still growing in height. But it's a higher proportion among the tallest kids, because it's how many of them got so tall in the first place! Most boys are completely done growing by 17.

BA is listed at 6’5. So I think Simashev is 6’6.

 

[rt]

Prospect Ramblings - A Tale of Two Giants

Well.. it's been a hot minute since I've done a prospect ramblings, but what better time to resume these bad boys than now -- Early September -- Prime hockey season. The KHL kicked off a few days ago, and I've been having a great time watching top Matvei Michkov get... absolutely 0 gameplay. My...

t.co

 

[rt]

Since the But height discussion is wrapped up in the Simashev height discussion, I’ll share this here:

https://x.com/hockeynewshub/status/1698394827870613828?s=46&t=7TY7xhXKLIY1MTzPzPZ29A

That’s But from this weekend looking slightly taller than a kid listed as 6’7”.

 

[Zine]

Since the But height discussion is wrapped up in the Simashev height discussion, I’ll share this here:

https://x.com/hockeynewshub/status/1698394827870613828?s=46&t=7TY7xhXKLIY1MTzPzPZ29A

That’s But from this weekend looking slightly taller than a kid listed as 6’7”.

MHL site lists Silayev as 197. Slighly more than 6-5 1/2

Edit: that's from last year. Yep KHL now has him at 100. Rougly 6-7.

 

[Michoulicious]

Always liked Simashev skating + size combo.

At worst he's an impressive top 4 shutdown D. Ceiling is sky high if he develops an offensive game.

 

[Caser]

what Happened?

I guess he meant this:

 

[rt]

I guess he meant this:

Weird play. Hopefully he’s alright.

 

[ponder]

I guess he meant this:

As long as he’s fine (I think he is?), that’s a good learning opportunity.

Smaller dmen get hunted by forecheckers from a young age, they have to quickly get good at angling, bracing for contact and counter hitting, etc.

Huge dmen like Simashev, when they’re younger often their size alone is enough of a defence from physical forecheckers, angling/bracing/counter-hitting is optional. But as they play against bigger, faster, stronger players, it no longer is. Simashev saw the forecheckers coming the whole time, but never even tried to brace for the hit - not something he can continue to do.

 

[dyldude]

Weird play. Hopefully he’s alright.

He finished out the game and seemed okay. Haven’t seen anything regarding an injury or anything, probably just rattled

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Helmet went off that's why he had to go I think