Chicago's biggest 'what if': How the Blackhawks could have looked with Ivan Demidov

What if the Chicago Blackhawks selected Ivan Demidov with the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft? Would Chicago have reached the playoffs and been one of the scariest offensive units in the league? Would they have found the next Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane partnership in Demidov and Connor Bedard? Who knows? But it may just have changed the course of the Blackhawks franchise forever.

In 2024, when the Blackhawks just narrowly missed out on the opportunity to become what would have been the most lethal and sporadic offense in the NHL by losing out on the right to draft Macklin Celebrini to San Jose, it was a simple choice for fans: choose the Russian phenom that is Ivan Demidov. But what fans weren't prepared for was the choice of Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov.

Why Levshunov was the safe and easy route

When Chicago was hit with the choice between selecting a big and physical right-handed d-man with what looked like extreme potential for improvement and a skillful and silky Russian winger who may not even reach the NHL for a season or two, in their current state, the gap they had on the right side of the defense was crying out for a guy like Levshunov, and he was exactly what they needed.

His experience playing in the NCAA against some really solid offensive prospects was what made him desirable. He was a puck-moving, two-way defenseman whom they saw as the next Duncan Keith, but so far in his career, that supposed high-end upside has yet to show. After some vocal fallout amongst fans and deliberation over the nature of the choice, for hardcore fans, they picked the safe, high-potential rock in the defense rather than what could have been Bedard's linemate of a lifetime.

Why Demidov was the flashy star every Hawks fan wanted

You could spend all day trying to name every promising and exciting young Russian winger who has come into the NHL and broken records, inspired millions, and reshaped the game; names like Pavel Datsyuk, Nikita Kucherov, and Alex Ovechkin are just some names to note, and Demidov was poised to be the next in line.

During his time in Russia, Demidov highlighted nothing but offensive creativity, a lethal shot, and an arsenal of moves no player could even dream of having. He was exactly what the Blackhawks needed. To this day, the Blackhawks have been itching for a dynamic forward with elite playmaking and high offensive upside, a counterpart for Bedard, and a guy who would transform them from bottom-feeders to playoff challengers. What hurts the most is that Ivan Demidov is that guy, and he was there for the taking.

In terms of how the Blackhawks would look today with Demidov and how they would shape up as a team, it is monumentally different from how they have lined up with Levshunov in the lineup. Bedard, who didn't have the right talent around him, would have his Robin: an offensive weapon who can score and evenly distribute just as well.

For Chicago, choosing Demidov would have elevated their offense to new heights, but it can't go unnoticed that their defensive depth and upside would have taken a massive blow. As much as we can look and see what Chicago's offense would have looked like, their defense would have been depleted massively. Although Levshunov hasn't yet transformed into a true No. 1 defenseman with the Hawks, he is still a high-end prospect who will bring plenty to the Hawks in time.

The question of whether the Hawks would have been better off with Demidov is one that can't be answered. Without a doubt, he would have been Bedard's guy and would have made the offense one to be feared, but it would have left them with a massive hole out back. Drafting Demidov would have left them defensively incompetent, and it is much harder to find a high-end young defenseman with a high ceiling than a forward with a high ceiling. Demidov may have gotten them a few more goals in the short term, but having a future number one guy on the blue line is something that is hard to come by.

So the verdict is no: the Blackhawks wouldn't have been massively better off, and if Demidov were a Hawk right now, there would be massive defensive problems. Bedard is the cornerstone of the franchise, and he is a player who will elevate anybody around him, but although Levshunov was a choice that is beneficial to the future, passing on what could be the next Russian face of the NHL will always be one of the Blackhawks' big 'what ifs.'

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