Chicago Blackhawks sign 2024 second-overall pick Artyom Levshunov to entry-level contract

The Chicago Blackhawks have locked up a big piece of their future as the team announced on Saturday they’ve come to terms with 2024 second-overall pick Artyom Levshunov on a three-year, entry-level contract.

The right-handed defenseman’s contract carries an average annual value of $975,000.

Levshunov, 18, is now signed through the 2026-27 season. He appeared in 38 games for Michigan State University last season, recording nine goals and 26 assists. Levshunov was one of the biggest x-factors for the Spartans, who went on to win both the Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament Championships.

Levshunov ranked second in the NCAA among freshman defensemen in points and earned himself Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. He was also named to the Big Ten First All-Star team and ACHA Second All-American Team.

The 6-foot-2 mobile defenseman now becomes one of the Blackhawks top prospects and has a very bright NHL future ahead of him. Prior to the 2024 NHL Draft, Daily Faceoff’s prospect analyst Steven Ellis had this to say about Levshunov’s game:

“It feels like Levshunov is the consensus No. 1 defender right now. 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. He led the Spartans in scoring after putting up one of the most impressive Draft+1 seasons by a defenseman in recent USHL history. And he’s got an incredible personality, something teams do find valuable. I think the ceiling for Levshunov to become a team’s No. 1 defenseman is very high, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made the decision to turn pro for 2024-25.”

The Blackhawks will be entering the second season of the Connor Bedard-era in 2024-25 and there’s a chance Levshunov will jump right into the NHL lineup next season. Chicago enjoyed a fine rookie season from former 2022 seventh-overall pick Kevin Korchinski in 2023-24, who made the jump directly from junior.

The Blackhawks have been busy this offseason, adding Tyler Bertuzzi, Pat Maroon, Teuvo Teravainen and Ilya Mikheyev up front and also added veteran defensemen T.J Brodie and Alec Martinez, as they continue to rebuild and retool on the fly.