Scouts and media enthused about the forwards in the 2023 NHL Draft a year ago, and properly so, as it was filled with top-tier skill. Connor Bedard, a generational player, was joined by Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov, and Leo Carlsson, forming a top four that could end up being one of the best of all time when all is said and done. That barely tells half of the picture, as there were plenty of forwards throughout the seven rounds, which is why it was called forward-heavy.

The Arizona Coyotes ultimately chose a defenseman, which is where Russian Dmitri Simashev enters into play. He was one of two defenseman selected among the top 10. Fast forward to the present, and we’re in Las Vegas, Nevada; while there are plenty of forwards in Ivan Demidov, Macklin Celebrini, and Cayden Lindstrom, this draft is expected to be defense-heavy, with many elite prospects in attendance.

For general manager Bill Armstrong and Utah’s scouts, that’s a great thing, as they’ll have numerous options heading into the highly anticipated draft. Not only that, but each of the four defensemen we’ll discuss in this piece offers something different from each other that makes them that much more intriguing. Armstrong has a knack for drafting prospects outside the bubble, but we’lnton l see if he does that with these four players potentially on the board this time.

ASilayev
Anton Silayev is without a doubt the most fascinating prospect in the whole draft, and there are several reasons why. Of course, his height will be discussed first, since he stands 6-foot-7 and effortlessly towers over opponents all across the ice. If you’ve followed Armstrong’s draft strategy, you’ll notice that he prefers height, and Silayev provides it in spades – this season, he played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, where he scored three goals and 11 points in 63 games.

The majority of his offense came in the first few weeks of the KHL season, after which his performance plummeted dramatically. But that isn’t his game. His playing exemplifies a stay-at-home defenseman, since he can easily use his reach to affect the dynamics of plays. Silayev, like most KHL players, has a contract with Torpedo until the 2026-27 season, which means he will be 20 years old before he can negotiate an NHL contract.

“The 6-foot-7 blueliner averages just under 20 minutes per night while blocking shots, landing hits, and displaying impressive skating given his stature. Scouts believe he’s the next Victor Hedman.

That’s high praise, and it’s one of the reasons why many people believe he’ll be the first defenseman picked this year. – Steven Ellis, Daily Face-Off

Silayev might go as high as two to the Chicago Blackhawks, but he could possibly land in Utah’s lap at six.
Sam Dickinson

While it’s unclear whether Silayev will be available at sixth overall, Sam Dickinson is likely to be available when Utah is on the clock. He stands 6-foot-2 and embodies everything you want in a two-way defenseman, especially given his young age. This season with the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he scored 18 goals and 70 points in 68 games, averaging little over a point per game.

Dickinson may have the highest defensive IQ of all of the defenseman in this class. When he’s in the zone, he seldom makes mistakes and is extremely smooth on his skates, allowing him to go rapidly up and down the rink. Given his frame, he’s not hesitant to use his body, which has resulted in him becoming much more physical this season. While defensemen like Dickinson can have an average shot, that is not the case here, as he has one of the best in the draft.

“Dickinson routinely kills plays, especially in transition. Players have a difficult time gaining the zone against him as he’s got the feet to stay with almost anyone, combined with the ideal length, reach, and stick work to knock pucks away. He’s tough and physical in his own end and ties up players in front of his net.” – Jordan Harris, Dobber Prospects

Dickinson has first-pairing potential written all over him, and Utah would have another elite prospect in the pipeline if they were to draft him.

Zeev Buium

 my latest three-round mock draft for Utah, many guys were considered sixth overall, as they should be. There are many various playing styles, but Zeev Buium stood out the most. The Coyotes haven’t had a legitimate offensive threat on the backend since Oliver Ekman-Larsson, so it’s been a long time. Buium played in the NCAA with Denver University this past season, where he scored 11 goals and 50 points in 42 games.

Buium would bring a prospect to the Coyotes/Utah system that they have never had before, and he would be a force on the blue line for many years to come.

Zayne Parekh

The search for the next Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes has been ongoing since they made an impression on their individual teams and the league. Nobody enjoys playing against players like those two, who can join the rush quickly and defend just as well. If anyone fits that description, it’s Zayne Parekh, who had an outstanding season in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit. In 66 games.

He scored 33 goals and 96 points, which is incredible considering he is a defenseman and only 18 years old.
Parekh is an intriguing possibility with enormous potential, but whether Armstrong takes the plunge is up to him and the scouts.

There are many defense options.
Utah’s NHL roster clearly needs a lot of help. Outside of Micheal Kesselring, Sean Durzi, and J.J. Moser, they need help on the blue line, and drafting an elite-level prospect with the sixth choice in the NHL Draft ensures their future with one. Whether it’s Buium, Parekh, or one of the other two defensemen named, adding one of these prospects will benefit them in the long run. Though each player’s growth route is unique, the length of time it takes to reach the NHL is uncertain, but the wait will be worthwhile.