'I Can't Sleep Without Hockey": Artyom Levshunov Is Ready For More

The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of bright prospects in the system. Some of them played pro in 2024-25, and more played in other leagues around the world. 

One of those top prospects is Artyom Levshunov, who Chicago selected second overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He spent most of the year with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL before making his NHL debut in the back half of the season. 

Once he made his debut in the NHL, he didn’t go back down to Rockford until the regular season was over. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, Levshunov was a top defenseman on the team who played in all situations. 

His shining moment of the season was his overtime winner in game one of the playoffs against the Chicago Wolves. He took steps offensively while continuing to work on his defensive game. 

Over the weekend, the IceHogs were eliminated by the Milwaukee Admirals in overtime of a winner-take-all game five. It was a great run for the young team loaded with talent. 

When the team held a final media session on Tuesday, Levshunov was very passionate about his love for hockey. 

“I can’t sleep without hockey,” Levshunov said with a smile. He fully admits that he doesn’t know what to do when he isn’t playing the game he loves. Skating, training, and working out are part of his off-season plans. He will spend the summer working on all of this in Florida. 

It is one thing to have a ton of talent. It is another to take that talent and combine it with the motivation needed to be a great player. 

As far as his first year pro, Levshunov was outstanding. Learning how to play defense at these levels is an incredibly difficult challenge. His development curve was what it needed to be in year one. For beginning the year injured, he found a way to make it work. 

Next season, it is likely that Levshunov spends the entire year in the NHL. He didn’t look out of place in 2024-25 so another summer of work should help him turn the corner to become a consistant contributor.

Will he be the team’s number one in the long term? Sam Rinzel and Alex Vlasic are in the mix with him as well, which is a great problem to have. 

With the positive vibes that Levshunov brings to the table, he will find himself playing meaningful minutes on a much better team. This “hockey obsessed” attitude will help him reach that goal of becoming a big-time player. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Read the full article here