What Artyom Levshunov brings to the Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks took another step towards the future on Sunday, calling up 19-year-old defenseman Artyom Levshunov from the Rockford IceHogs. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Belarusian is the next progression in Chicago’s eye to contention, having posted five goals and 17 assists in 50 AHL games. 

Levshunov could make his NHL debut on Monday night against the Colorado Avalanche after recently getting called up.

Steven Ellis joined Daily Faceoff Live with Tyler Yaremchuk and Frank Seravalli and spoke about his potential and what he could bring to the Blackhawks in the short and long term. 

Tyler Yaremchuk: Artyom Levshunov was called up by the Blackhawks, who are waiting to get his debut here soon, the No. 2 overall pick from last year. What’s he projected to be, and is he ready to make an impact at the NHL level?

Steven Ellis: I was hoping we’d see him a little earlier, but I think the thing with him is he’s had to do a lot of moving in the last couple of years. He goes from Belarus to the USHL to college to the AHL, and now the NHL. That’s a lot in a four-year span. But every time he’s taken on a new challenge, he seems to have no issue catching up and playing the pace needed. 

Really impressive season in the AHL, he’s put up some decent points there; 22 points and 50 games is impressive. I think he’s he’s got the size, he’s got the smarts, and he’s got a really good personality. It seems like everyone loves playing with him, and now he’s going to have an opportunity to go to a Blackhawks team where there are no expectations. This is just, ‘hey, let’s see what happens,’ and I think he’s going to impress because he loves playing in the spotlight, and he never seems to disappoint every time I watch him, so I’m excited for him.

You can catch up with the full episode here…