Artyom Levshunov 2024 NHL Draft Profile

It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! Earlier this week, we looked at Macklin Celebrini and Ivan Demidov. The 2024 NHL Draft will take place on June 28 and 29 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

Up next in our rankings is Artyom Levshunov. Levshunov is projected as a consensus top-10 selection while also being commonly regarded as the best defenceman in the draft class.

Who is Artyom Levshunov?

Player	Position	Handedness	Height	Weight
Artyom Levshunov	D	Right	6’2″	209lbs

Levshunov’s on-ice production

Year	Draft Relative	League	Team	GP	G	A	P
2020–21	D-3	Belarus Vysshaya	Team Belarus U17	46	10	16	26
2021–22	D-2	Belarus Vysshaya	Team Belarus U18	46	25	38	63
		WJC-20 D1A	Belarus U20	5	0	2	2
2022–23	D-1	USHL	Green Bay Gamblers	62	13	29	42
2023–24	D+0	NCAA	Michigan State University	37	9	26	35

To start his career, Levshunov played in his home country of Belarus. He made the U17 team as a 15-year-old where he put a solid 26 points in 46 games—making him the highest-producing defenceman on his team.

Better numbers against tougher competition

The next season, he made the jump to U18 at just 16 years old. This year, Levshunov took a big step, not only was he playing against older players, his production went up a lot. He added an extra 15 goals and 37 points in the same number of games for 25 and 63, respectively.

Not only did he lead his team in scoring, he also placed as the eighth-highest producer league-wide and the point lead for defencemen. To add on to this special season, his 63 points set a record as the most amount of points scored as a U17 defenceman.

Making an impact at the international stage

As for the international stage, Belarus hasn’t been to the World Juniors since 2018. Levshunov made Belarus’ U20 team for the Division 1 World Juniors. Teams in this tournament have the chance to be promoted. Levshunov played a more limited role but still put up two points in five games.

Belarus won all five of their games earning the gold medal and a spot at the 2023 World Juniors. Due to ongoing world conflicts, Belarus was suspended from IIHF play and their promotion was handed to the second-place team in Latvia.

Making the jump to North American hockey

After producing in his home country, Levshunov was drafted by the Green Bay Gamblers with the 111th pick in the eighth round in the USHL Draft in 2022. Levshunov joined the Gamblers the following season. A quick impact was made winning defenceman of the week in the first week of November. He would then win it again in the third week of March. Strong production continued for him, scoring 42 points in 62 games while being sixth on his team as a 17-year-old rookie. His great season saw him earn the honour of the All-Rookie Team and Third All-Star Team.

Rising up into the NCAA

With his strong USHL season, Levshunov officially committed to the NCAA and Michigan State University in the summer of 2023. This move has only benefited Levshunov’s draft choice. His game has continued to be rounded out while production has improved. An 18-year-old defensive freshman with 35 points in 37 games, good for 0.95 points per game.

Those 35 points put him in a tie for Michigan State’s lead with Isaac Howard, a 20-year-old sophomore. He’s in the top 10 for defensive scoring with only one other freshman ahead of him, Zeev Buium. He also has the honour of having the second-highest point per game from a draft-eligible defenceman in the NCAA since 1990, once again behind just Buium.

At the Big Ten postseason awards, Levshunov cleaned up. He and Michigan State won the whole tournament for starters. Individually, he did just as well winning Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and being named to the All-First team and Freshman team. He also received a nomination for Player of the Year which went to Gavin Brindley.

Levshunov’s strengths

Skating

Skating is where Levshunov shines instantly. You’ll quickly notice his four-way mobility which makes him effective in all areas of the game. In the offensive end, he’ll make quick cuts to get into a better position or to throw off defenders and create space. He’s always moving and he moves fast. This makes him great to cycle the puck and create offensive chances.

Edgework is noticeable whether he’s walking the blueline or making tight turns around the zone. Burst fills his stride and can reach a fast top speed that helps him transition from defence to offence and vice versa. It makes him a great option for the rush as he can quickly exit the zone, with or without the puck.

He’ll even blow past defenders from time to time. His cuts help him through the neutral zone, creating space for himself or his teammates and generating options. That edgework allows him to position himself well in the defensive end, putting his whole body towards the attacker while moving quickly.

Offensive ability

It’s hard to deny the offensive ability that Levshunov has. When it comes to offence, he can read the play quickly and come out with a result. These can be fast and simple but effective passes that end with a goal or dangerous chance. They may also be flashy passes that you would see on a highlight reel.

During a breakout, he’ll often choose what he thinks is the best option. He’s skilled with outlet passes, either making great stretch passes or picking up speed in the defensive end before finding an open man to keep the pace going. Being afraid of jumping in the rush doesn’t come with Levshunov and you’ll typically see him doing so and becoming a fourth option or even being the puck carrier himself.

In-zone offence is where you can see some great promise. He’ll often read all his options and always want to keep the puck moving. He wants the best chance he can get. You can tell he has ideas, whether they are executed or not typically come from his teammates’ reads. A more skilled lineup and we’ll likely see Levshunov’s thoughts shine.

Physicality and defence

At a big 6’2″ and 209lbs frame, Levshunov isn’t afraid to use it. You’ll see him lay hits that connect. He can leave his opponent dropped on the ice or even just off the puck, either can be effective. His stick-checking can be nice, using that strength to overpower his opponent in a stick lift or puck battle. Properly timed poke checks can also be seen from time to time.

Levshunov’s best defence seems to come from the rush. He might read plays before they happen and quickly plan on how to take those chances away. If he’s out of position, you can see him have the time to adjust and sometimes he’s just a step ahead. His skating really helps him here. He applies pressure to the puck carrier, often using his body to strip them of the puck. His gap control can be solid too.

Levshunov’s areas of improvement

Decision making

For a player whose reads can bring out the best of him, Levshunov can have some shaky decision-making. He’ll try to do things on his own, thinking he’s the best option and it won’t work. Starting with the in-zone offence, he’ll attempt to use his skating to outdo the larger amount of opposing bodies, but suddenly there’s no proper pass option and he’ll rush the play.

During the transition, he may attempt to carry the puck in and lose space trying to do too much. Sometimes it looks like he doesn’t check for his options and just jumps in expecting his teammates to follow. Under pressure, in both ends, Levshunov panics and throws the puck without looking resulting in turnovers, sometimes high-danger ones. It makes him look confused in the defensive end especially.

Even though he is typically good with using his body, it’ll just seem like the aggressiveness isn’t there once in a while. He’ll have the advantage defensively and it’s not like he doesn’t have the skill to, but he just won’t take the physical step needed.

Raw skill

Having raw skill isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes you can see it impact Levshunov’s game. With his offensive skills, you can tell they are there. Starting with his shot, it has quickness and power to it and he can score off some nice angles but the selection and accuracy can lack. He wants to take a shot, so he shoots it into traffic, struggling to find that open lane. Other times it just seems like the puck didn’t go where he wanted it to.

Then with his passing, it’s definitely a strength but you feel like there could be more there. He shows flashes of great stretch passes and creative ones too, they’re just not frequent or connect enough. It could be because of his team.

For puck control, you see glimpses, it just doesn’t seem like he has the confidence. You very likely can find some nice moves pulled off by Levshunov but once again it’s just not frequent. It seems like he’d rather make lower-risk players even though he could pull off the higher-risk.

Finally, with defence, you see him make the mistakes an 18-year-old freshman would make. He’s got very good defence for his age, but the common faults can make their way through. Blind passes that lead to defensive zone turnovers, not enough effort, straying away from battles, being outsmarted, etc.

Levshunov’s comparables

Levshunov is a bit harder to draw a comparison for but the Boston Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy seems pretty close. Both have an offensive side and use it well but they understand a defensive responsibility. Skating is also a big part of both of their games.

They stand at similar frames being the same weight and an inch apart. They don’t shy away from physicality and know how to use their bodies. Despite being bigger guys, they both appear swift on the ice, looking smaller just because of how smooth their game is.

I can see Levshunov being a 50–60 point defenceman who has a good defensive game, once again similar to McAvoy.

Fit with the Flames

The centre position is easily the Flames’ biggest need, but defence is definitely second. The Flames have improved their young defensive depth quite a bit in the past year through trades and drafting. Jeremie Poirier, Etienne Morin, and Hunter Brzustewicz appear as standouts. With respect to those guys, none of them have a projection like Levshunov.

Levshunov is dynamic. He brings that offensive mind that the Flames haven’t seemed to have in forever on the back end. His skating is also huge as a big gripe with the Flames is how they appear slow and choppy with their movement. The left side is the organizational strength, other than Brzustewicz, there’s no other real long-term option on the right. Levshunov would fix that instantly.

Summary

Levshunov has always seemed to be ahead of the curve. Making U17 and U18 teams at young ages and dominating in his home country. Moving to North America where he immediately made an impact in the USHL. Went to University in the NCAA, had better production in a stronger league, and was recognized for his fantastic 18-year-old freshman season.

He likely won’t make the jump to the NHL right away and will play another season in the NCAA. His talent is raw and letting it develop will get you the best version of him.

An all-around game complimented by four-way mobility is the gist of Levshunov’s game. Quick cuts, fast skating, and great offensive ideas are what make him shine in the offensive end. When it comes to defence, being able to read the play and his physicality help him the most.

Levshunov is an elite talent, with proper development and no rush, we should see him as a top two-way defenceman in the NHL one day.

Risk: 2.5/5

Reward: 5/5

Projection: Elite top pair defenceman

Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2024 NHL Draft prospects:

Drew OstmoenMarch 31, 2024

8 minutes read