Hockey

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

Published: Jun 14, 2025, 11:00 AM
6 min read
Updated: Jul 8, 2025, 8:32 AM
Dmitriy Simashev

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.

“I’m in good contact with Misha now,” Simashev explained. “We’ll likely keep in touch because we’ll play on the same team. He came to the final, we met afterward, and we talked. But I wouldn’t call us very close friends yet—maybe in the future. Right now, we chat and joke. However, I wasn’t thrilled about our conversation being broadcast. It felt like an invasion of privacy.”

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.”

Hockey Reporter
Daria Tuboltseva has been reporting on hockey since 2016, covering some of the sport’s biggest stages, including the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, the IIHF World Championships, and the KHL Gagarin Cup Finals. Over the past decade, her work has appeared in major outlets like Championat.com, Sport24, and the official websites of both the KHL and WHL. Along the way, she’s interviewed some of the game’s top stars, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, and Sergei Bobrovsky.
Interests:
NHL
Nutrition
Interviews

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Hockey
News Report
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain

NHL veteran Jimmy Vesey is exploring a move to the KHL, with SKA St. Petersburg emerging as a top contender for the 32-year-old forward.

4
07/29/2025
Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain
Hockey
Analysis
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI

RG asked four AI models to rank the top 10 NHL players ever using a weighted formula. The results reveal both consensus and controversy.

16
07/28/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI
Hockey
Interview
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey

Beckett Sennecke is coming off a dominant season and says he’s open to whatever path the Anaheim Ducks believe is best for his NHL development.

7
07/26/2025
Andrew Knoll
Andrew Knoll
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey
Hockey
Interview
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid

Returning NHL goalie Ivan Prosvetov joins the Calgary Flames on a one-year deal, determined to secure the starter’s job and face star Connor McDavid.

6
07/23/2025
Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid
Prev
...
Next

Hockey Writers

Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Senior News Editor

Marco D’Amico is an accredited hockey reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens, with a sharp focus on NHL prospects, the NHL Draft and player development. Known for his insightful analysis and deep scouting knowledge, Marco’s work has been featured on major networks such as TSN, RDS, CBC and more. Over the years, he has interviewed top hockey talents including Lane Hutson, Shane Wright, Ivan Demidov, Logan Cooley and NHL superstar Nathan MacKinnon.

He has covered multiple NHL Drafts and international events like the 4 Nations Face-Off, providing on-the-ground insights and expert breakdowns. In addition to his work in hockey media, Marco brings more than a decade of editing and marketing experience across a range of industries — from tech startups to cultural organizations — sharpening his ability to craft compelling narratives and deliver content that resonates with diverse audiences.

His unique blend of insider access, expert evaluation and compelling storytelling has made him a respected voice in the hockey media landscape.

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.