Why it is far too early for Chicago Blackhawks fans to be worried about Artyom Levshunov

Levshunov's physical maturity has always made him stand out amongst his peers, and he is learning to use that to his advantage at the pro level.

When young players have a size advantage, there come times where they are forced to adapt because the league is just as big and fast as they are. Levshunov has been going through this all season and his adaptability has been showing as he is learning to use his size and skating ability to his advantage slowly but surely.

The IceHogs development staff has done wonders for young defensemen in the last couple seasons that have since made their way to Chicago, and they are giving Levshunov the same treatment.

As a 19-year-old, he is playing top minutes in all situations, giving him necessary experience that had been beneficial for players like Alex Vlasic, Nolan Allan, and Kevin Korchinski.

Out of all the Blackhawks' defensive prospects, Levshunov's potential is the highest and he is working with a staff who has been able to get the most out of their defenders.

With being so young in one of the top leagues in the world, the growing pains were expected. But, he is still playing like the player he was drafted to be and not neutralizing his habits that had set him apart from the rest, which is a positive sign going forward.

It is likely Levshunov will make his NHL debut sometime next season, but he probably will need another full season in Rockford to develop and fine tune his game. The traits he possesses give him a very high potential, but it'll just take time before he truly taps into it.