Simon, 20, was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, and will make the move from his native Praha, Czech Republic to play in North America this season. The 5-foot-11, 176-pound forward played last season for HC Plzen, a Czech Extraliga team owned by former Penguins player Martin Straka, and finished tied for third on the team with 30 points (18G-12A) in 52 games.

Simon, the youngest player on the Czech team at the 2015 World Championships, was paired on a line with the team’s most senior member, former Penguin Jaromir Jagr. Simon finished that tournament with six points (1G-5A) in 10 games.

In 2013-14, Simon paced all players under 20 years old in the Czech Extraliga with 11 points (7G-4A) in 46 games for HC Sparta Praha. In 116 games in the Czech league, Simon has totaled 26 goals and 17 assists for 43 points. In 14 playoff games, Simon has two goals and three assists for five points and 10 penalty minutes.

Simon proved to be a high-end playoff performer in the years prior to joining the Czech Extraliga, posting 11 points (5G-6A) in 12 games for the HC Sparta Praha Under-18 squad, and scoring seven goals in seven games for the Under-20 team in 2013.

Simon has competed on the international stage for the Czech Republic on multiple occasions, including honors for being one of the top three players for the Czech Republic at the 2012 Under-18 World Junior Championship when he had eight points (4G-4A) in six games. He also suited up in the 2013 and ’14 Under-20 World Junior Championships. In ’14, Simon was an alternate captain and he produced four points (2G-2A) in five contests.