I think D!ckinson is worth more to the Hawks as a 3C than whatever they get back in return, because it won’t be what you’re suggesting. JMHO
- Angotti

If they were to get that for Richardinson, take it and run. Agree with you though, there’s no way they’re getting all that for him.

Powers writes about Levshunov in the Athletic. Some excerpts for those who don't subscribe.

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Artyom Levshunov was coming off a fractured foot. He had been in just two practices. He missed training camp and hadn’t played in a competitive game for more than six months.

When Levshunov took the ice last weekend for the Rockford IceHogs, making his pro debut as an 18-year-old (he turned 19 on Monday), he showed why the Chicago Blackhawks selected him second in the 2024 NHL Draft.

“He didn’t play like he was 18 or 19,” IceHogs coach Anders Sorensen said of the defenseman. “He looked like he’s been in the league for a while. He’s really poised, really calm under pressure. I thought that just the way he processes the game was interesting to watch.”

As Sorensen and the Blackhawks know, it’s just the start for Levshunov. They were happy to finally get him going, but they’re especially excited to see what he can do when he’s up to speed. He played nearly 24 minutes in his debut on Saturday and about another 22 minutes on Sunday.

Here are some takeaways from Levshunov’s first pro games as a Blackhawks prospect.

Levshunov’s skating immediately jumped out. With his 6-foot-2, 209-pound frame, he gets to pucks and breaks up plays quickly.

“His first step, it’s very efficient,” Sorensen said. “The way he moves, it’s one, two strides, and he’s at full speed already. Where everybody talks about the first three steps have to be explosive, but he’s like shot out of a cannon his first step. That’s part of it. He’s so balanced when he defends. His posture is very good.”

“He’s a very quiet skater,” Sorensen said. “It’s crazy. It’s like you don’t hear him when he strides. Kevin (Korchinski), you can hear. Arty’s such a powerful glider. I reference William (Nylander) because I know William so well, but it’s like you don’t hear them they’re skating and you’re like, all of sudden, where he did he come from?”

Levshunov is built like a man already, which separates him from fellow teenagers playing pro hockey. He’s not that physical, though the Big Ten probably toughed him up, but he doesn’t shy away from it, either.

“Obviously it’s a benefit that he’s got a heavy stick,” Sorensen said. “He’s got a quick stick, too, defensively. I noticed a couple of times he just anticipates and he’s able to poke the puck off the opponent’s stick. Or if it’s a 50-50 puck, he’s able to utilize his stick and jam it up the wall. That way it’s almost a breakout.”

The Blackhawks drafted Levshunov so high to be the full package. His defensive-zone play will be vital, but they also expect him to bring something offensively. In the two games, you could see where that potential could lie, too.

Levshunov also showed patience when holding the puck. A lot of players his age have quick pressure points and want to move the puck quickly.

“He’s very poised,” Sorensen said. “I think the other thing is he keeps the puck on his forehand a lot. He keeps it loaded a lot, so he’s in that threatening position to pass or shoot or hang on. He freezes a lot of opponents that way. They think he’s going to pass it or think he’s going to shoot it and he kind of hangs onto it. And because his posture is so good when he’s in those moments, he’s able to use his skating and kind of get away from guys. But the poise is definitely noticeable for a young kid.”

Sorensen played Levshunov along with fellow defenseman Kevin Korchinski on the IceHogs’ top power play. Korchinski was more of the quarterback, and Levshunov played on the flank.

“I think Arty, it’s not a position he’s been in a lot,” Sorensen said. “I talked to him a little bit about it. He’s used to being at the top of the umbrella, and I’m sure he’ll get there. We just wanted to kind of get him on on the power play at first there. He’s got a really good shot. I thought he handled the flank really well because, as a D-man, that’s a hard spot to play if you haven’t played there. But you could see the poise he had in some of those situations.”

Like with all the young defensemen, Sorensen and his staff will also work on Levshunov’s gap.

“I thought there’s definitely some times where his gaps were good, there’s times where he gave up some ice,” Sorensen said. “I think with him because he’s such a good skater, encourage him to be and defend on the front of his foot. And what I mean by that is be up a lot and skate forward a lot. We don’t need him to be backing off too much on the lines and stuff. You said it yourself that you saw him contest people early, but we can contest people even earlier at the red line or offensive blue line, and that’s what we want him to do.”

With time, the Blackhawks are hoping he’ll be doing that at the NHL level. They are going to be patient with him. They want him to get pro reps, a ton of ice time and test what he’s able to do at the pro level.

The weekend was just the beginning.

“It’s going to be fun to watch because you see how high his ceiling is in certain areas,” Sorensen said. “Just like all of them, he’s got some stuff he’s got to work on, but, again, he’s 19 years old just today. So impressive just to see some of his certain attributes that he has that he showcased in these two games. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
- boilermaker100

Talk about small sample size!
Two games played.
One assist.
A minus 3.

Talk about small sample size!
Two games played.
One assist.
A minus 3.
- Ztra

So if it's a small sample size, those stats don't mean much.

Talk about small sample size!
Two games played.
One assist.
A minus 3.
- Ztra

Typical isn’t it? Trying to be positive about the player when it’s obvious Levshunov is going to be a bust.

The big Arty thing - he's so good of an athlete and such a tremendous skater he's going to look good in the AHL (not dissimilar to Reichel or even Nazar or Korchinski) no matter what.

I think that there is a bit of a misunderstanding about what kind of player he is. He's not a stay at home guy or kind of sort of do everything mostly ok but big frame and skate well like Jones or Nurse - He's more of a Jossi type where he'll end up in the other end running the play like a 4th forward or leading the break out with the puck on his blade.

Regarding Hall, I don't think we can really criticize his speed too much considering he is in his 30's now. He hasn't clicked quite with his linemates so far, but his wheels are roughly where the were a couple years ago with Boston based on skating metrics. He used to be closer to AA and Mikheyev in terms of pure speed, but he is still faster up and down than ice than most of the rest of the team including the much younger guys like Kurashev, Bedard, Reichel.

He might need to make adjustments, but he is still getting chances and putting pucks on net, I think maybe the coaches will get him going with a bit more production if he keeps putting in the work/effort here.
- breadbag

Speaking from experience it takes a long time after major knee surgery to get that top gear back athletically. I’d say 1.5 year especially a guy in his 30s. You have to work to get all the speed and explosiveness back. Just doesn’t come back because your leg is back to normal size.

Speaking from experience it takes a long time after major knee surgery to get that top gear back athletically. I’d say 1.5 year especially a guy in his 30s. You have to work to get all the speed and explosiveness back. Just doesn’t come back because your leg is back to normal size.
- bhawks2241

Hopefully his hands come back as well. If Reichel and his line, who knows who it'll be, can continue to put goals in the net then Hall and crew just got to play good defense and act as a 3rd line.

I do think the first real wave of talent is here now with Reichel, Vlasic, Kaiser and Allan. I know fatty said Reichel is bum slaying but going up against quality NHL players with Maroon, Smith and AA having i believe the primary assist on all 3 assists is pretty fing good. He does have a different style than Bedard he's more north south player not weave and try to create space and passing lanes player like Bedard is, probably why he does better with a forward like AA.

I hope this continues for him, even on the goal he scored, win the face off and headed straight to the net.
- BetweenTheDots

I just see Reichel, Vlasic, Kaiser, Allan as all parts from before the rebuild actually started under KD, vs the first wave of talent from the rebuild which is not quite here, but getting close.

Typical isn’t it? Trying to be positive about the player when it’s obvious Levshunov is going to be a bust.
- paulr

The odds say we should get a decent amount of NHL players from all our draft choices but then I remember, the odds said Theo Epstein would develop one pitcher in 10 years.

First 10 games.
5-on-5 Goals - 17 for, 18 against(this year)
14 for, 26 against (last year)
Note that Hall, Murphy, and Perry were around early last season before they got hurt or sent away, so the team was weaker later in the season. Bottom line, they are better so far this year.

I just see Reichel, Vlasic, Kaiser, Allan as all parts from before the rebuild actually started under KD, vs the first wave of talent from the rebuild which is not quite here, but getting close.
- breadbag

Can't wait for the KD drafted kids to get here. I know it wasn't planned this way but i think we are very fortunate that Bowman finally drafted several good looking defensive prospects. The historical data shows forwards develop faster than defenseman. Boy do we have a lot of forwards in the system.

Looks like Rinzel is taking a big step forward in Minnesota, Arty, KK, i believe the future is bright for this team, so long as they remain patient.

I was also thinking about Brodie. I agree with you guys he's not that good, but i do think he is better than any and all the scrubs we let walk in the offseason.

I think he's best with Vlasic, maybe not analytically but literally, i believe 5 on 5 that pairing is 2 goals against and 1 goal for.

And on top of all that i appreciate that Kaiser and Allan are allowed to play their natural LD position more than anything else. Kaiser is looking better and better with Seth Jones.

I was also thinking about Brodie. I agree with you guys he's not that good, but i do think he is better than any and all the scrubs we let walk in the offseason.

I think he's best with Vlasic, maybe not analytically but literally, i believe 5 on 5 that pairing is 2 goals against and 1 goal for.

And on top of all that i appreciate that Kaiser and Allan are allowed to play their natural LD position more than anything else. Kaiser is looking better and better with Seth Jones.
- BetweenTheDots

If you go by last game
Vlasic-Murphy was the shut down pair, I wouldn't put Brodie on any shut down pair, no matter who he looks "better" with. Would you want Brodie playing 22 minutes like Murphy did?

First 10 games.
5-on-5 Goals - 17 for, 18 against(this year)
14 for, 26 against (last year)
Note that Hall, Murphy, and Perry were around early last season before they got hurt or sent away, so the team was weaker later in the season. Bottom line, they are better so far this year.
- Angotti

Ran across a really helpful crunching of the numbers over the first ten games this yr and last at Second City that shows the Hawks are demonstrably better than last yr. Your eyes are correct, really since Game 1 in the preseason, that this yr is a much better team. ......... The 2nd graph is the one to see.

https://www.secondcityhoc...khawks-games-this-season/

If you go by last game
Vlasic-Murphy was the shut down pair, I wouldn't put Brodie on any shut down pair, no matter who he looks "better" with. Would you want Brodie playing 22 minutes like Murphy did?
- LAHawk

If they have only given up 2 Goals Against all season, yea, i don't want any of the RDmen playing over 20 minutes a night. 55 plus minutes of 5 on 5 ice time with Vlasic.

A deeper look and Brodie is actually not upside down on the analytics when he plays the Left side with S Jones and Murphy. It's only 10 minutes of ice time but i do notice if Brodie doesn't have a quick outlet pass when he plays the RD position he used to just throw it up the boards, against the Avs i saw him just take the puck and eat it in the corner until more help arrived but that was for the 3rd period on 2 different plays.

Source: Hockeystatcards.com


Player TM POS GP TOI G A iXg Bk Pen FO xGF xGA GF GA Avg GS GS Total
Seth Jones team logo D 10 26 1 6 1.1 17 -3 0 7.8 6.8 8.0 5.3 1.30 13.00
Alex Vlasic team logo D 10 22 0 5 0.4 25 1 0 6.1 6.4 8.1 8.1 0.75 7.50
Connor Murphy team logo D 10 18 0 4 0.6 20 -6 0 5.5 6.2 7.0 4.8 0.60 6.00
Wyatt Kaiser team logo D 9 17 0 1 0.3 24 0 0 4.9 5.1 3.0 3.1 0.46 4.14
Alec Martinez team logo D 4 21 0 1 0.2 15 0 0 3.9 3.8 2.1 2.9 0.41 1.64
TJ Brodie team logo D 10 16 0 2 0.2 13 -2 0 5.8 7.2 2.0 8.0 -0.52 -5.20
Nolan Allan team logo D 7 13 0 2 0.3 5 -1 0 3.2 4.3 3.9 5.1 -0.36 -2.52

Source: Hockeystatcards.com


Player TM POS GP TOI G A iXg Bk Pen FO xGF xGA GF GA Avg GS GS Total
Seth Jones team logo D 10 26 1 6 1.1 17 -3 0 7.8 6.8 8.0 5.3 1.30 13.00
Alex Vlasic team logo D 10 22 0 5 0.4 25 1 0 6.1 6.4 8.1 8.1 0.75 7.50
Connor Murphy team logo D 10 18 0 4 0.6 20 -6 0 5.5 6.2 7.0 4.8 0.60 6.00
Wyatt Kaiser team logo D 9 17 0 1 0.3 24 0 0 4.9 5.1 3.0 3.1 0.46 4.14
Alec Martinez team logo D 4 21 0 1 0.2 15 0 0 3.9 3.8 2.1 2.9 0.41 1.64
TJ Brodie team logo D 10 16 0 2 0.2 13 -2 0 5.8 7.2 2.0 8.0 -0.52 -5.20
Nolan Allan team logo D 7 13 0 2 0.3 5 -1 0 3.2 4.3 3.9 5.1 -0.36 -2.52
- LAHawk

https://www.naturalstattr...7495&p3=8474673&p4=0&p5=0

Still better than the guys from last year and let's the 2 natural LD men build their game in the NHL.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=4v5&score=all&rate=n&team=CHI&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2024-10-04&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8474166&p2=8477495&p3=8474673&p4=0&p5=0

Still better than the guys from last year and let's the 2 natural LD men build their game in the NHL.
- BetweenTheDots

That's fine, LR has him now properly slotted as this years Zaitsev.

That's fine, LR has him now properly slotted as this years Zaitsev.
- LAHawk

Well considering Zaitsev was predominately with Korchinski and had a ton of offensive zone draws as opposed to Brodie who's getting a lot of defensive zone draws they are similar.