Today, the KHL awarded their league championship.
Utah Mammoth prospects Daniil But and Dmitri Simashev were part of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team that won the Gagarin Cup — the first in the franchise’s history.
But was the 12th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, now the Mammoth. Simashev went sixth overall. If that’s not a sign that the future in Utah is bright, I don’t know what is.
They now join Veeti Väisänen and Gabe Smith as Utah prospects who’ve won championships in their respective leagues.
Winning at any level helps a player grow, and for the Mammoth, seeing this many prospects hoist trophies has to feel pretty good. The front office and scouting staff have put in the work to find talent with upside — guys who can eventually make an impact at the NHL level. For But and Simashev, they now know what it takes to win in a pro league. That kind of experience matters.
It’s obviously not the same as winning the Stanley Cup, but having gone through the grind of a championship run only helps their development.
To top it off, Mikhail Sergachev was in the building for the Gagarin Cup Final, cheering on his future teammates and fellow countrymen.
