The Blackhawks entrance workplace debated internally for weeks about how they’d train the No. 2 decide within the 2024 NHL Draft. After some heated debates, they determined to draft defenseman Artyom Levshunov from Michigan State.
However after making that choice at The Sphere in Las Vegas, the Blackhawks reportedly tried to maneuver again into the highest picks within the draft, providing the Colombus Blue Jackets a commerce provide for his or her No. 4 decide.
In line with TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Blackhawks supplied their first-round decide in 2025 unprotected, and one other decide, in return for No. 4. LeBrun says the commerce got here shut however the Blue Jackets could not move on Cayden Lindstrom, who they took with the fourth decide.
Presumably, the Blackhawks aimed to seize playmaking juggernaut Ivan Demidov, who the Blackhawks debated selecting with the No. 2 decide over Levshunov. They tried to seize each gamers, however in the long run, they landed on Levshunov.
Levshunov was the Blackhawks’ selection at No. 2 and it was a call that was made weeks in the past.
“I simply suppose the whole package deal,” Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson stated of why Levshunov was the choice. “Offensively, he can drive offense, he can skate, he is tremendous cell, he is received good measurement, he is aggressive, he is a bodily defender and we simply suppose there’s extra upside to come back.
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“The package deal in addition to the potential development left to come back, it was simply so intriguing and one thing we actually felt that may simply make us a significantly better group.”
The Blackhawks had been enamored by Levshunov this season and had scouted him repeatedly at Michigan State. Their love for him solely grew over time, and it is not exhausting to see why.
Levshunov put up terrific numbers as a freshman with 35 factors (9 targets, 26 assists) in 38 video games. The 12 months prior, he had 42 factors (13 targets, 29 assists) in 62 video games for the USHL’s Inexperienced Bay Gamblers.
“You see the best way he skates and the dimensions, for an enormous man to get across the ice that properly, and he is very puck pleasant and he is ultra-competitive,” Blackhawks director of novice scouting Mike Doneghey stated. “He simply continued to take the steps.
“Everybody thought he was going to return to Inexperienced Bay, after which he finally ends up going to Michigan State and he was capable of elevate his recreation towards gamers which can be 3, 4 and 5 years older than him and never miss a beat from the USHL.
“After which when you meet him off the ice, he is a fascinating persona, his character, the best way he treats individuals, it is simply what we’re about.”
Bodily, Levshunov appears NHL-ready; he is listed at 6-foot-1.75 inches and 205 kilos. However the Blackhawks really feel there’s much more room to develop.
“I simply suppose he is to this point behind the curve, though he is an enormous man,” Doneghey stated. “You see him and he is received lengthy arms and lengthy legs; it is simply, he hasn’t educated in North America. In August, he goes to Michigan State, so he did not actually have a faculty coaching session like most youngsters do. I simply suppose his ceiling is high-end.”
The large query now could be, the place will Levshunov play subsequent season? Will he return to Michigan State for a sophomore season or flip professional and play within the AHL?
The Blackhawks appear to have considered that already.
“I am going to most likely speak with [his agent] Dan Milstein and type of give him our thought of what we expect and what we imagine is the very best path,” Davidson stated. “We’ll let him hear that first.”
With the decide, Levshunov immediately turns into the highest prospect in Chicago’s system and tasks to be a top-pairing defenseman within the NHL. He very properly may very well be the headliner of the brand new core on the again finish which incorporates Kevin Korchinski and Alex Vlasic.
“With the dimensions, mobility of Levshunov and the abrasiveness that he performs with, he is an ideal complement to the group,” Davidson stated. “But in addition his means with the puck and the flexibility to show protection into offense, it is one thing that he does very properly and it is only a actually interesting add to the group.”
The Blackhawks not solely really feel Levshunov may very well be a top-pairing defenseman. They suppose he has all of the instruments to be a bonafide No. 1 blue liner, which each and every Stanley Cup contender wants.
“He definitely has that upside, sure,” Davidson stated. “It is simply the whole package deal. The flexibility to play each side of the puck, the upside, the bodily. I feel there’s nonetheless bodily development to occur when it comes to filling out and getting even stronger than he’s, which is fairly scary to consider.
“However I feel simply the flexibility to influence the sport on each side of the puck and to log massive minutes, which I imagine he’ll do on the NHL degree.”
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