After the 2023-24 season, the Chicago Blackhawks were looking to rebound from another disappointing campaign. Despite drafting Connor Bedard with the top pick the previous year and watching him win the Calder Trophy, the Hawks still had many pieces of their puzzle missing.
The team finished the season with a 23-53-6 record and ranked in the bottom half of the league across several key categories. Offensively, the Hawks struggled, scoring just 2.17 goals per game—the lowest in the NHL—while defensively, they allowed 3.52 goals per game, the fourth-highest in the league. Clearly, the team needed a strong presence on the blue line: someone who could block shots and skate effectively to shut down opponents’ scoring chances.
With the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Hawks selected their next promising young defenseman, Artyom Levshunov, from Zhlobin, Belarus. Levshunov made his NHL debut on March 10 of last season. In 18 games, he averaged 20 minutes and 19 seconds of ice time and recorded six assists. There was definite promise heading into the centennial season.
However, Levshunov has struggled to find his footing at the start of the 2025-26 campaign. Issues with puck turnovers, missed one-timers, and allowing opposing forwards to blow past him on breakaways have raised questions. During training camp, he occasionally appeared out of sync as well.
This led to a significant moment when head coach Jeff Blashill made Levshunov a healthy scratch for the Hawks’ home opener against the Montreal Canadiens. During player introductions, Levshunov gave a straight-faced wave to the crowd, sparking discussion among fans and analysts alike.
Is Levshunov truly ready for the NHL? Should the Hawks have chosen Ivan Demidov instead? Despite the noise, Coach Blashill was clear about his plans for the young defenseman.
“The biggest thing for us is trying to look at his development path,” Blashill said after the 3-2 loss to Montreal. “Sometimes it’s OK to miss games (and) it’s OK in certain games to not get a lot of ice time. We feel the best place for him to be is with us right now. He’s going to play plenty of games and there are going to be some games where he doesn’t play, that’s just the reality.”
Since that initial benching, Levshunov hasn’t missed a game. He has played within an interesting system implemented by Blashill, who has been rotating an 11-forward, seven-defenseman lineup over the past few games and plans to continue this approach. Levshunov has frequently been the seventh defenseman dressed.
In six games, he is averaging 15 minutes and 20 seconds of ice time with a plus-4 rating. The former Big Ten Defenseman of the Year and Freshman of the Year has adapted well to this role, especially as the team racks up wins.
“Every guy plays his minutes, maybe a little less minutes, but I think it’s good,” Levshunov said. “We’re winning the games (and) I think we’re doing good so far.”
Levshunov credits the step back against Montreal, where he was a healthy scratch, as a helpful reset. It gave him time to clear his head and focus on improving his game. He emphasized a desire to be more disciplined on the ice and impactful in both defensive and offensive zones.
“Playing with my confidence is 100% what I want for myself,” Levshunov said. “Just play my game and play the right way.”
Coach Blashill has expressed satisfaction with Levshunov’s skating and overall progress. Developing defensemen takes time, and this period is part of the learning curve.
“He’s a really good athlete (and) has a good skill set, he just has to learn to apply that within the structure,” Blashill explained. “When he’s not sure what to do, he freezes a little bit, so making sure that he feels confident in what he’s supposed to do and understanding that if he makes a mistake, it’s OK. This is new to all of them. I think overall he’s done a good job.”
The Blackhawks remain committed to Levshunov’s development as they work to build a stronger, more competitive team for the future.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/21/chicago-blackhwks-artyom-levshunov-defense/