Blackhawks activate Artyom Levshunov off injured reserve, assign him to AHL

On Tuesday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that defenseman Artyom Levshunov had been activated from injured reserve and assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.

Levshunov had suffered an injury to his right foot during the offseason, which forced him to miss the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase and all of training camp. The projected timeline for his return was four weeks, and by all accounts, Levshunov’s recovery was right on schedule.

The Blackhawks are very high on the Belarussian blueliner, taking him second overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. While Levshunov is just 18, Chicago believes he is ready to make the jump to the pro ranks now, which is why they signed him to his entry-level contract just a few weeks after the draft in Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-2 defender joins a young core in Chicago’s organization headed by reigning Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard. Other great young stars, including Kevin Korchinski, are also in the fold to help the franchise build for the future.

Levshunov had an incredible freshman season at Michigan State in 2023-24. Despite it being his first year in college hockey and second in North America, he impressed many with his ability to play at both ends of the rink. He ended up scoring nine goals and 26 assists for 35 points in 38 games, helping the Spartans win both the Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament championships.

He was MSU’s nominee for the Hobey Baker Award and was named to the Big Ten’s All-Rookie and First All-Star Team, along with earning conference defenseman of the year honors. Levhsunov’s play earned him the title of second-team All-American.

Levshunov has also had a presence on the international stage. In 2022, he helped Belarus win gold at the IIHF D1A World Junior Championship.