“I Wanted To Leave For A Long Time,” Says Dmitriy Simashev On Joining NHL’s Utah Mammoth

Dmitriy Simashev (Photo by KHL.ru)

One of Russia’s most promising young defensemen, Dmitriy Simashev, is heading to North America. The 20-year-old officially announced his departure from the KHL to join the Utah Mammoth. On Wednesday, Utah announced the signing of Simashev to a entry-level contract. While playing for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, he captured the Gagarin Cup, registering one assist in 21 playoff games and totaling 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) across 56 regular-season games. This was Simashev’s second postseason with Lokomotiv in the KHL playoffs.

“I wanted to leave for a long time,” Simashev shared in an exclusive interview with RG. “The NHL is everyone’s dream. The realization came early last season. After the draft, I had thoughts, but first I needed to see if I could establish myself in the KHL. Would I play? After last season, I realized that I want to go and give it a try.”

Simashev was selected sixth overall in the 2023 Draft and has played his entire career within the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl organization. Leaving Lokomotiv wasn’t easy, but ultimately, the decision was his.

“We discussed it, and the final decision was mine,” he explained. “Obviously, they wanted me to stay, but I made this decision.”

Since the draft, Simashev maintained regular contact with Utah Mammoth representatives, particularly the coaching staff.

“Mostly, I spoke with the defensive development coach. Communication came from my side; it was enjoyable, and they helped me. Several times, I asked for training advice. I also spoke with the physical preparation coach. He showed me some exercises. It was interesting. We chatted weekly or biweekly. During the playoffs, we didn’t talk much—they only congratulated me on the victories. I didn’t want to fill my head with distractions.”

Competition and Confidence in Utah

Utah Mammoth has high hopes for Simashev. The defenseman has already spoken with the team’s general manager, Bill Armstrong.

“I wouldn’t want to reveal details of our conversation, but everything depends on me,” said Simashev. “Clearly, they want me as a leading defenseman. Every GM wants their prospect in a leading role. If I play well, I’ll get a top-4 or even a top-2 role in the future. It’s entirely up to me.”

Utah already has eight defensemen under contract for the 2025/26 season, but Simashev isn’t worried about competition.

“Who said they’ll welcome me with open arms and say, ‘Here’s everything you want’? I’ll have to prove myself anyway,” he remarked. “Of course, I believe in myself. I’m confident. I think everything will work out.”

Simashev has had connections to the NHL before his move, notably helping friends of Mikhail Sergachev get tickets to the Gagarin Cup finals. Their Instagram conversation even appeared during a TV broadcast.

In Utah, Simashev hopes to rely on Sergachev for guidance.

“I think he’ll get tired of me because I have many questions,” Simashev joked. “I’ll ask him for help with hockey and life. I’m sure I’ll annoy him a bit, but Misha is a good guy and should help me.”

Sergachev, who has already won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning and is now a leading defenseman for the Utah Mammoth at age 26, is an inspiring example for Simashev.

“Absolutely. His career is impressive,” Simashev noted. “Two Stanley Cups, status as one of the league’s best defensemen—he’s a role model. It’ll be amazing to learn from someone like him. I’d love to reach his level someday.”

A Versatile, Two-Way Defenseman

Though Simashev mainly played a defensive role with Lokomotiv, he sees himself as a versatile, two-way player.

“An attacking defenseman for me is someone like Hughes, Makar, or Hutson. They’re smaller and move incredibly,” he said. “There are also two-way defensemen like Heiskanen and Harley in Dallas. Radulov told me about Harley, who went from AHL to one of the best in the league. Hedman and Dahlin also started offensively and became versatile. I want to be myself—solid defensively and able to score points. I’m confident I can do both.”

Simashev is well-prepared for language adaptation.

“My English is good,” he said confidently. “I spoke well at the draft. I spent two months in America last year and practiced throughout the season. No issues there—I watch series in English without subtitles.”

Simashev hasn’t finalized his exact moving date but has a general plan.

“Right now, I’m just living day by day,” he explained. “The first week after the season ends is for rest and family. Later, I’ll calmly plan my move. For now, I’ll likely spend the next few months between Moscow and Yaroslavl.”

He’s already familiar with his new home.

“I attended rookie camp last year. It’s a fantastic place,” he said. “It reminded me of Andorra, a country between France and Spain that I visited as a child. Utah is similar, nestled among mountains, very clean and beautiful. I’ve seen Sergachev talk about it in interviews—everything he said is true.”