Artyom Levshunov

Artyom Levshunov established himself as a talented defenseman who rose to professional hockey success quickly. The Belarusian hockey player Artyom Levshunov entered the world on October 28, 2005 in Zhlobin Belarus before playing for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL after starting in the Belarusian Vysshaya Liga. The 2022–23 season saw him score 13 goals while adding 29 assists across 62 games which led to his selection for the All-Rookie Team.

Levshunov joined Michigan State University in 2023–24 where he achieved an impressive first year of college hockey. The NCAA freshman defensemen scoring leader Levshunov accumulated 35 points through 9 goals and 26 assists during his 38-game season. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards together with All-Big Ten First Team selection followed his outstanding performance.

The Chicago Blackhawks chose Levshunov as their second overall pick during the 2024 NHL Draft which established him as the highest-drafted Belarusian-born player in NHL history. The Blackhawks signed Levshunov to a three-year entry-level contract in July 2024. His NHL debut occurred on March 10, 2025 when he played 20:55 minutes against the Colorado Avalanche.

The NHL considers Levshunov one of its top defensive prospects because of his outstanding skating ability and hockey intelligence along with his ability to play both offense and defense. The Blackhawks value Levshunov as a crucial asset because his size and skill combination with his ice presence will help the team build a competitive roster for upcoming seasons.