Rolling with Artyom Levshunov was the obvious decision for the Blackhawks

Going with Artyom Levshunov over the likes of Ivan Demidov, Cayden Lindstrom, or the upstart Berkly Catton was an outstanding decision for the Blackhawks. Levshunov would have been my pick, and for good reason, as getting the top blueliner in the draft following the Bedard selection in 2023 gives the Hawks a pair of players who will evolve into the league’s best at their respective positions in time. 

This is a team that struggled unlike any other defensively last season, and while you can relate it to poor goaltending, in part by No. 2 netminder Arvid Soderblom, they also needed a potential game-changer at the blue line. 

Sure, Kevin Korchinski is a good player, and there is some intriguing young talent in the defensive rotation, but none of them will match Levshunov’s presence once he eventually takes the ice with the big club. 

Connor Bedard, Philipp Kurashev are big winners with Blackhawks No. 2 pick

Artyom Levshunov’s presence will lead to broken plays for Blackhawks opponents, meaning more chances for the likes of Connor Bedard, Phillip Kurashev, and other young, talented players who will make their way to the NHL club full-time like Frank Nazar and Landon Slaggert, both of whom saw limited action in the NHL this season. 

Not just that, whoever Levshunov pairs up with will also have less to worry about here, as he’s the kind of player who, in time, will handle his end of the ice with ease. Given his overall ceiling, Levshunov reaching such a level will come sooner rather than later. 

Sure, someone like Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom would have been exciting to see lining up next to Bedard, but really, Levshunov gives the Blackhawks more value here. They have a plethora of awesome prospects and young players at forward as it was, but you couldn’t say the same for the defensive rotation. 

That changed tonight with Levshunov going second overall to Chicago, and five years from today, you will be glad to see him in the Blackhawks defensive rotation, even if you wanted a forward.