The transition for a teenage defenseman into the National Hockey League is rarely a linear climb. For Artyom Levshunov, the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the 2025-26 campaign has been a masterclass in the “high-variance” lifestyle of a franchise blueliner. After a first half that saw him quarterbacking the top power-play unit and flashing elite transition skills, the 20-year-old Belarusian has hit a definitive rookie wall.
As the Chicago Blackhawks enter the Olympic break, head coach Jeff Blashill has made the calculated decision to pull his prize prospect out of the line-up. Levshunov has been a healthy scratch for three consecutive games—including the February 4th shutout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets—as the coaching staff initiates a “foundational reset.”
Here is the comprehensive scout’s look at Levshunov’s season so far, the technical breakdowns of his recent struggles, and the organizational plan to get his game back on the rails.
Season Summary: From Power Play Poise to Pittsburgh Disaster
Levshunov’s season began with significant momentum. By early November, he had earned a promotion to Chicago’s top power-play unit, replacing Sam Rinzel as the primary distributor at the point. His playmaking was ahead of schedule; he recorded 11 assists through his first 19 games and finally notched his first career NHL goal on November 27 against the Minnesota Wild. At that stage, “Arty” looked every bit the Alex Pietrangelo clone scouts had promised—a big, right-shot defender capable of eating 20-plus minutes a night with remarkable poise.
However, as the calendar turned to 2026, the wheels began to wobble. Since January 7th, the Blackhawks have been outscored 16-3 with Levshunov on the ice at five-on-five. The slide culminated on January 29 in a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game characterized as the worst performance of his young career. Levshunov finished the night a staggering -5, lost his defensive assignments on multiple goals, and appeared completely disconnected from his partner, Wyatt Kaiser. He now sits at a total of 21 points through 52 games with a -27 rating.
Scouting Report: The Technical Breakdown
Strengths: The “Chaos on Skates” Upside
Elite Skating Profile: Levshunov remains one of the most mobile big men in the league. NHL EDGE data has clocked his top speed at 22.15 mph (72nd percentile for defensemen). His “gazelle-like” stride allows him to close gaps instantly and recover from aggressive pinches that would leave slower defenders stranded.
Transitional Dominance: His best work happens in the neutral zone. He has a unique ability to attack the offensive blueline, pull back to address a breakout, and immediately transition back into the rush.
Heavy Point Shot: While he only has two goals on the season, his shot power is legitimate. He recorded a 93.21 mph blast in January, and his ability to generate high amounts of torque with a short follow-through makes his shot difficult for goaltenders to telegraph. .
Weaknesses: Foundational Fractures
Gap Control & Passive Positioning: In the second half of the season, Levshunov’s gaps have become inconsistent. In the Pittsburgh game, he was found playing too deep in his own zone, allowing elite forwards to enter the zone with speed and manipulate the defensive structure.
Exit Pass Inconsistency: When under heavy forecheck pressure, his decision-making has regressed. He has struggled with “blind” clearing attempts and missing the tape on simple breakout passes, leading to extended zone time for the opposition.
Defensive Awareness: The -27 rating is a glaring red flag for a rebuilding team. He has developed a habit of “ditching his assignment” to chase the puck, leaving the back door wide open for high-danger scoring chances.
Physical Development: At 6’2” and over 200 pounds, he has the ideal size for an NHL defenseman, but he doesn’t use it consistently yet. That’s normal for a young defenseman early in his career. The physical side of the game takes time. He needs to bring more competitiveness in key moments, win more battles along the boards, and use his body more effectively when the situation calls for it. With better positioning, stick work, and timing, he can put himself in the right spots and make his size a real advantage without overplaying it.
The Benchmarking Problem: Celebrini and Demidov
The pressure on Levshunov is magnified by the immediate success of other high-lottery picks. Macklin Celebrini (2024 #1 Overall) is having a legendary sophomore season with 81 points in 55 games, currently on pace for the second-highest scoring teenage season in NHL history.
The decision to select Levshunov over Ivan Demidov will always be a major talking point in the Blackhawks’ rebuild. Many fans were frustrated when Chicago passed on Demidov, a highly skilled and dynamic offensive player. However, this decision wasn’t unique to the Blackhawks. Around the NHL, several teams remain cautious about drafting Russian prospects, mainly due to concerns over long-term KHL contracts, delayed arrivals, and development happening outside of NHL control.
We saw a similar situation in Montreal when the Canadiens passed on Matvei Michkov to select Reinbacher, and Chicago followed that same path by choosing Levshunov over Demidov. These decisions reflect a broader league-wide mindset, not just one team’s philosophy.
Now that Demidov has made a quicker move toward the NHL, the conversation has naturally shifted and become more critical of Levshunov’s selection. That said, Levshunov can only control what he can control—his development and his improvement. Defensemen almost always take longer to reach their full potential, and patience is a key part of that process. In the end, only time will tell if the Blackhawks made the right choice, but judging a young defenseman too early is rarely the right way to evaluate a rebuild.
The Road Ahead: The Olympic Reset
The Blackhawks are not sending Levshunov down to Rockford (AHL). Coach Blashill has been firm: “Rather than send him down and play more games… what he needs is a chance to reset some foundational things.” The organization is utilizing the three-week Olympic hiatus to put Levshunov through a specialized training program focused on three pillars:
Shooting Mechanics: Improving his finishing on an expected goal (xG) total of 3.53.
Puck Management: Cleaning up high-risk turnovers at the bluelines.
Defensive Structure: Using video analysis to correct his coverage and assignments in the “house.”
The recall of Sam Rinzel—who skated nearly 26 minutes in the final game before the break—provided the Hawks with a temporary replacement while Levshunov moved to the press box for a breather.
Final Outlook
Artyom Levshunov’s season is a reminder that development isn’t linear. He already skates at a solid NHL level and has noticeable strength in his game, but his hockey sense and decision-making are still catching up to the speed of the NHL. The tools are there — now it’s about learning when to use them and adjusting to the pace of the league.. His own self-assessment of a “seven or eight out of ten” shows a kid with the confidence to survive this league, but the technical data suggests he is currently a project in need of a reset.
If this program takes hold during the break, Levshunov has the tools to be a top-pairing anchor for a decade. If the defensive lapses continue into March, the conversation about a stint in Rockford will become unavoidable. For now, the “work goes on” in the video room and the weight room.
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