Artyom Levshunov

Artyom Andreyevich Levshunov (, Arciom Andrejevič Leŭshunoŭ; born October 28, 2005) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for the Michigan State University. He was selected second overall by the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL entry draft, the highest-drafted Belarusian player in NHL history, and made his NHL debut in 2025.

Playing career

Amateur

Following the 2021–22 season, in which he scored 25 goals and 38 assists in 63 games for Belarus under-18 team in the second-tier Belarusian Vysshaya Liga, Levshunov was selected 111th overall by the Green Bay Gamblers in the eighth round of the 2022 United States Hockey League (USHL) Phase II Draft.

Debuting with the Gamblers as a 16-year-old and speaking very little English, he quickly earned his first USHL Defencemen of the Week award on November 9, 2022, for a week in which he recorded two goals and three assists for five points in two games. On March 20, 2023, Levshunov earned his second USHL Defenceman of the Week with four points (one goal and three assists) in two games. He finished the 2022–23 season with 13 goals, ranking third among USHL defencemen. After getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Levshunov was named to the USHL First All-Rookie Team and the Third All-USHL Team.

Levshunov committed to play college ice hockey for Michigan State University in the summer of 2023. On October 7, 2023, he made his collegiate debut for Michigan State in the first game of the season-opener series against Lake Superior State. The next day, he recorded his first goal and assist in the second game of the series. Levshunov finished the 2023–24 season with nine goals and 26 assists in 38 games, placing ninth overall in total points among NCAA defencemen with 35. He was selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Professional

Chicago Blackhawks (2024–present) Levshunov was drafted second overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL entry draft, making him the highest-drafted player from Belarus. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on July 6, 2024.

In the summer of 2024, Levshunov fractured his foot by blocking a shot during a three-on-three tournament. Despite fracturing his foot, he went on to skate for over a month before an MRI scan at the Blackhawks' training camp revealed the injury. Although originally expected to miss only the Tom Kurver Showcase, further evaluations expected him to miss six weeks with two weeks in a walking boot. He was placed on the injured reserve on October 4, missing training camp, the preseason, and the season-opener. On October 22, Levshunov was activated off injured reserve and assigned to the Blackhawks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He made his NHL debut on March 10, 2025, against the Colorado Avalanche. He recorded 20:55 of ice time and a plus–minus of –1 in a 3–0 loss.

International play

Levshunov debuted internationally with Belarus junior team at the 2022 World Junior Championships, in the Division I Group A tournament. He helped the team to win a gold medal with two assists in five games.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2020–21 Team Belarus U17 BLR.2 46 10 16 26 28 7 2 3 5 0 2021–22 Team Belarus U18 BLR.2 46 25 38 63 28 13 7 10 17 2 2022–23 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 62 13 29 42 38 3 0 1 1 0 2023–24 Michigan State University B1G 38 9 26 35 44 — — — — — 2024–25 Rockford IceHogs AHL 52 5 17 22 59 7 1 0 1 10 2024–25 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 18 0 6 6 8 — — — — — 2025–26 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 68 2 22 24 44 — — — — — NHL totals 86 2 28 30 52 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2022 Belarus WJC (Div IA) 5 0 2 2 4Junior totals 5 0 2 2 4

Awards and honours Award Year RefUSHL All-USHL Third Team 2023 All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year 2024 AHCA West Second Team All-American 2024