Blackhawks draft Artyom Levshunov 2nd overall
The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Belarusian defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday.
Artyom Levshunov
Levshunov checks a lot of NHL boxes simply by being a 6-foot-2 rearguard with a right-hand shot, but he's got the game to back it up, too.
Lauded for his offensive play, the soon-to-be 19-year-old made his North American debut with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers in 2022-23. There, he started generating some buzz after amassing 42 points in 62 games, but he broke out this past season after making the jump to the NCAA look easy.
Levshunov operated at a near point-per-game pace for the Michigan State Spartans and ended his freshman year tied for the 10th-most points among all blue-liners in the NCAA and the second most out of all draft-eligible defensemen, trailing only Denver's Zeev Buium.
Of course, Levshunov isn't perfect in his own zone, but he's shown incredible growth at his position through his first two years away from Belarus, enough to make him the fourth-ever Belarusian player to be selected in the opening round and the first to get taken in the top eight.
What they're saying
"He is extremely skilled and creative, both as a puck-handler and passer," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman while ranking Levshunov No. 2 on his May board. "He has the hands of a top offensive defenseman and looks very comfortable with the puck. He skates well and can play an up-tempo style in how he attacks with his skill. ... His defensive play doesn't stand out as much, particularly because he tries to attack so much, but he can make stops due to his athleticism and has physicality in his game."
Pronman also compared him to veteran blue-liner Brent Burns and previously likened Levshunov to New York Islanders standout Noah Dobson in his April rankings.
"It feels like Levshunov as the top defenseman (in the draft) is almost the consensus now," Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis wrote in April. "He's just got everything scouts want in a high-end defender - size, mobility, and puck-moving skills, just to name a few quality traits. ... There aren't many notable deficiencies in his game."