It’s hard to find a prospect who had as good of a time at the 2024 NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo last weekend as Artyom Levshunov.
Levshunov spoke twice to the media during the festivities on Friday and Saturday, and it was hard not to find him smiling, telling jokes, or showing confidence in his game.
“I like a lot of NHL players, but I try to be myself on the ice,” he said during his availability. “I try to be Artyom Levshunov.”
First impressions can go a long way – and for a few fanbases seriously in the running to select him later this month in Vegas, they loved seeing his personality shine.
But on the ice, he’s fearless. The 6-foot-1.75, 205-pound defender is considered by most scouts to be the top prospect for the 2024 draft thanks to his combination of pure strength, fluid skating and dynamic skill.
“I always remember, before we’d play Green Bay (in the USHL), all the guys were talking about him,” top prospect Macklin Celebrini said at the combine. “Then we got on the ice, he would just take over the game. He’s a smooth skater and a wizard with the puck.”
Levshunov was Michigan State’s top scorer this year, registering 35 points in 38 games as a freshman. It was an explosive season for a rookie nobody really saw coming. But that’s been Levshunov’s whole thing the past few years, anyway. He made such an impact as a rookie in the USHL last year, finishing on the league’s third all-star team after a 42-point season in his first year in North America.
But the USHL wasn’t the original plan. While playing the junior national team program back in his native Belarus, the goal was always for Levshunov to play in the CHL once he outgrew his local competition. Unfortunately for him, all Russian and Belarussian players were banned from the CHL Import Draft following the invasion in Ukraine in 2022, meaning Levshunov had to change gears quickly.
“I had the option to play in the USHL and then the option to play in college and I just wanted to chase my dream,” Levshunov said. “I came here to the US because I wanted to be in the NHL.”
So far, there’s been quite a bit of change in his young career. From having to improve his English, learning a new culture and everything associated with a move across the world – and the quick transition that helped him become the B1G 10 defensive player of the year – has been swift. It takes a special player to handle all the obstacles, just as Levshunov does, and it seems like nothing bothers him. He loves the spotlight.
One realistic comparable is Columbus’ Zach Werenski. He’s got a strong frame, he’s offensively gifted and can control the power play with ease. Levshunov’s biggest area to work on still is his defensive game, but he’s gotten better at using his footwork to help win battles and get him where he needs to be. Another year of college could help with that, but it’s not something that actively hurts him right now.
There isn’t much that Levshubov can’t do. He’s a high-end skater who loves to shoot the puck, has tremendous vision, is a high-end puckhandler and his hockey sense and physical play is among the best we’ve seen in a while.
As a late birthday – Levshunov was born Oct. 28, 2005 – Levshunov was able to maximize his value by playing in college while most other defensemen this year weren’t eligible. In fact, many scouts say he’d be the top defenseman taken in most recent drafts because he doesn’t have a specific area in which he struggles. His ceiling is so high, and he’s one of the best offensive and transitional defenders in this class. Combine all of it and it’s understandable why he’s ranked as high as the No. 2 prospect in this draft.
When scouts mention “future Norris Trophy winner” to describe an 18-year-old, you know they’re good.
“He’s one of those guys that you can throw in all situations and he doesn’t crack under pressure,” a scout said. “He’s as close to the complete package as you’re looking for out of a top prospect. There isn’t much he can’t do. He’s an elite, all-around play-killer out there.”
Levshunov himself likes to keep expectations grounded, though.
“I’m a pretty simple player actually, guys,” he said. “I just play hockey. I try to play fast and smart and help the team win.”
Levshunov said the only team that took him out for dinner during combine week were the Chicago Blackhawks, who should the No. 2 selection. The Blackhawks could seriously use a defenseman with No. 1 potential like Levshunov, someone who can control the play at his own pace and set the tone for everyone else. The Ducks need a defenseman at No. 3, as well, so it was interesting they didn’t take him out – might mean nothing, might mean something.
But what’s definitely true is that all 32 NHL teams could use a right-handed defenseman of Levshunov’s caliber. And as he’s set to become the highest player to ever be drafted out of Belarus – Ruslan Salei was taken ninth overall by Anaheim in 1996 – the sky’s the limit for Levshunov.
What we don’t know right now is who’ll end up taking Levshunov. What we do know is the team that takes him is getting a future superstar with an incredible personality – and you should absolutely want your team to select him.