Levshunov’s first full NHL season produced two goals and 22 assists in 68 games for Chicago – respectable raw numbers for a 20-year-old second overall pick, but accompanied by a minus-41 that reflects both the state of the Blackhawks and a recurring set of defensive habits that coach Jeff Blashill addressed publicly and repeatedly throughout the year. The central diagnosis was not a lack of offensive ability but a failure to deploy it at the right times – Blashill noted that Levshunov began the year defending well, was pushed to attack more, and overcorrected, abandoning defensive structure in pursuit of offensive plays that weren’t always there. The result was games of extreme variance: spectacular rushes and power play contributions alongside coverage lapses, positioning errors, and moments his elite skating gave him permission to gamble where more disciplined defensemen wouldn’t.

The tools have never been in question. The skating, puck-moving ability, and offensive instincts are all genuine top-pairing ingredients. What Chicago is working to install is the decision-making framework that channels those tools in the right sequence – defend first, then build. A second full season will tell us whether Levshunov can internalize that balance. The ceiling remains enormous. Hold in all dynasty formats.

Artyom Levshunov, selected second overall by Chicago in the 2024 draft, has shown promise despite a delayed start to his season due to a foot injury. In Rockford, he demonstrated his elite skating ability and puck-moving skills, which make him a dynamic presence on the blue line. Levshunov’s upside as a top-pairing defenseman is evident, and he has the potential to be a major contributor in Chicago’s defensive core. The Blackhawks called him up in March and showed no signs of an adjustment period. He logged heavy minutes and played on the top power play; he registered six assists in 18 games to finish the 2024-25 season with the Blackhawks.

Levshunov was selected 2nd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Levshunov finished his NCAA campaign as one of the highest scoring draft eligible defensemen in history; not bad for a kid who was playing in Belarus 2 years ago! The growth he’s made is staggering and he’s defined himself as one of the more “toolsy” players of this years draft. His combination of size, speed and skill should see him go very early on draft day; but he’s not without his concerns. Levshunov is still adjusting to the NA game, and while it has improved, the unrefined defensive game and some poor habits still plague viewings. That said, it’s very reassuring that Levshunov has shown the effort and ability to improve as the season has gone on. He’s not likely to be ready out the gate, but given some time an NHL team should be able to carve him into a top 4 defenseman with relative ease. If his offensive game can adapt or translate to the NHL, he can be headlining his franchise’s d-core for years to come. (April Ranking: 7th)