Coyotes select Daniil But with No. 12 pick in 2023 NHL Draft

The Arizona Coyotes have selected forward Daniil But with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

But is a huge forward who split the 2022-23 season between the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl clubs in the KHL and MHL (Russia’s top junior league). He’s a strong skater and very coordinated for a player of his size. Not many 17-year-olds play KHL games, but But managed to assert himself when given more than a few minutes of ice time.

The 6-foot-5 left wing collected a pair of goals in 15 KHL games with Lokomotiv in 2022-23. He also appeared in one Gagarin Cup Playoff game with the team. In the MHL, But collected 18 goals and 32 points in 32 games before adding five goals and nine points in seven playoff contests.

But is the latest addition to a Coyotes prospect pool that also includes Dmitri Simashev, Logan Cooley, Conor Geekie and more. The Yotes used their 2022 first-round selections on Cooley, Geekie and Maveric Lamoureux.

Arizona does not possess another pick in the first round, they previously selected Simashev in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Barring any additional moves, the Coyotes will be back on the clock with the No. 38 pick in the second round.

Daily Faceoff‘s Steven Ellis ranked But as the No. 35 prospect available in this year’s draft. Here’s what he had to say about But in his final 2023 NHL Draft Rankings:

“The big, skilled winger was a point-per-game player between Yaroslavl’s MHL teams this year and even scored a pair in 15 KHL games. He can do a lot of damage around the crease, both with his shot and how he pushes players around.”

The Coyotes finished the 2022–23 regular season with a 28-40-14 record and 70 points in 82 games, enough to finish seventh in the Central Division and 27th in the league. They ultimately missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.