Dmitri Simashev could be on the Buffalo Sabres radar at 13th overall

The Buffalo Sabres will go with the best player on the board with the 13th overall pick, and Dmitri Simashev could be that option. 

At 13th overall, the Buffalo Sabres have several options available. They could always trade the pick, but there is a higher likelihood that they stand at at 13 and go with the best player that comes to them.

Yesterday, Daniil But and Samuel Honzek were two players I revealed my likeness for. And in their latest mock draft, Corey Pronman of The Athletic mocked But to the Sabres at 13. However, they also admitted that Dmitri Simashev was another strong candidate to land with the Blue and Gold in the following statement:

"“I was between But and Dmitri Simashev here for Buffalo, both of whom I think would fit in perfectly into their depth charts. I think But is just a bit more talented, and can provide a unique combination of size, speed and skill into the Sabres lineup. ”  – via The Athletic"

What makes Dmitri Simashev a good fit for the Buffalo Sabres?

For one, the Sabres still need top-end defensive prospects, even after Ryan Johnson, Vsevolod Komarov, and Nikita Novikov signed earlier this offseason. Further, Simashev is a top five, perhaps even a top three defensive prospect in this draft.

Per Elite Prospects, the 6’4, 201 lb Simashev ranks as high as the ninth-best overall skater in the 2023 draft, with that particular ranking coming from Dobber Prospects and McKeen’s Hockey. Simashev has played in 18 career games with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL, and 79 outings in the MHL, Russia’s second-tier league, logging 28 points, six goals, and 22 assists in that span.

Pronman has Simashev pegged in to the Calgary Flames at 16th overall, citing the fact that the blueliner is the best remaining player for Calgary at that point. They also considered Matthew Wood with the selection.

If the Sabres pass on a blueliner in the first round, expect them to draft plenty of them later, assuming they keep their respective draft picks. Other potential prospects Buffalo could have their eye on in the first round include Gabriel Perreault, Wood, and Zach Benson, all of whom we have covered recently.

Source: NHL Mock Draft 2023: Pronman, Wheeler and Bultman put on their GM hats, pick two rounds by Corey Pronman, Max Bultman, and Scott Wood, TheAthletic.com