The season is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to look towards the future. We do that every year with the Five For Howling 25 Under 25, ranking the Coyotes’ best players under 25. For this year’s rankings, I am joined by James Reeve (@JamesRJReeve), Mike Gould (@miketgould), Haynes Evans (@HaynesPEvans), and Matthew Jacobson (@TheAZSportsGuy).
Daniil But
2022-23 League: KHL (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl), MHL (Loko Yaroslavl), MHL (Loko-76 Yaroslavl)
Games Played: 15, 26, 6
Goals: 2, 15, 3
Assists: 0, 11, 3
KHL Playoffs Games Played: 1
KHL Playoffs Goals: 0
KHL Playoffs Assists: 0
MHL Playoffs Games Played: 7
MHL Playoffs Goals: 4
MHL Playoffs Assists: 5
Highest Rating: 7
Lowest Rating: 17
Awards: MHL All-Star Game (selected did not play)
The Arizona Coyotes drafting Daniil But 12th overall led to one of my favorite moments at the NHL Entry Draft. Dmitri Simashev was being interviewed after being selected and got to see his teammate being drafted to his new team live while being interviewed.
The first thing people noticed about But is his size and the fact that General Manager Bill Armstrong drafted several tall players at this year’s draft. But that’s not to say But is just size; he played KHL games in his draft year and was a point-per-game player in the MHL.
Going into the draft, Corey Pronman said that But was one of his favorite prospects. “But is a 6-5 winger who skates very well for his size, has the hands and offensive IQ to create a lot of offense, and has a natural goal-scorer touch including a strong midrange shot. He’s better than Dylan Guenther at the same age.”
But’s season has already started in the KHL with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, with the Russian forward playing in two games. He is currently pointless, but don’t expect that to last long.
If Daniil But hits, he should be vital to the Coyotes’ future. Scouts have compared him to Tage Thompson, another big forward who can score. Thompson is coming off a 47-goal, 94-point season, and if the Coyotes can have a player like him to complement the likes of Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley, it should make for a dangerous combination.