LAS VEGAS — The Chicago Blackhawks selected Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the second pick of the NHL draft Friday.
Levshunov, 18, boosts a budding corps of young blue liners that includes Kevin Korchinski and Alex Vlasic
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.“I was waiting for this for 18 years. Finally, I’m somewhere. Not somewhere — in Chicago,” Levshunov said minutes after he was selected at Sphere. “Feels real now. Now it feels like a dream come true.
“I was thinking about them because we had a good conversation throughout the season and at the combine, they came to Buffalo, with our agency camp (in Florida), they came to talk with me, (and) we went for lunch. … I’m happy that Chicago picked me.”
The Hawks then added offense with their second pick of the first round, selecting Sacha Boisvert at No. 18. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound left-handed center played for the Muskegon (Mich.) Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League the last two seasons and is committed to the University of North Dakota.
But the Hawks weren’t done. They later traded their two second-round picks — Nos. 34 and 50 — to the Carolina Hurricanes and selected winger Marek Vanacker at No. 27. Vanacker, 18, of Delhi, Ontario, had 36 goals and 46 assists (82 points) in 68 games for OHL Brantford last season.
Dan Marr, vice president of NHL Central Scouting, called Levshunov a complete player with an all-around game.
“His understanding with positioning and reading the play, moving the puck, it’s really high-end,” Marr told the Tribune.
Central Scouting ranked the native of Belarus No. 2 among North American skaters. He was named a second-team All-American and Big Ten defensive player of the year after posting nine goals and 26 assists for the Spartans as a freshman.
The Hawks passed on other top contenders, including Russian junior-league winger Ivan Demidov and forward Cayden Lindstrom of the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson had said Thursday that he and his staff felt “pretty confident with where we’re going to go” after the San Jose Sharks drafted Macklin Celebrini at No. 1. But Davidson acknowledged there were “significant” debates.
“They’re all really good options, so that just lends itself to a debate that you want to give the proper time to,” Davidson said. “You don’t want to anoint anyone or any one direction too soon, so you give it time to breathe, you give it time to digest new information, and it’s been a pretty healthy debate and one that we’ve taken a lot of time to consider.
“If it was a no-brainer, then we probably would have known months ago,” after landing the No. 2 pick in the draft lottery.
“Finally, I’m somewhere. Not somewhere — in Chicago.”
—Artyom Levshunov on being drafted by the Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/HrCRQgVgtc
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) June 29, 2024
What gave Levshunov the edge? “The total package,” Davidson said.
“Offensively, he can drive offense, he can skate, he’s super mobile, he’s got good size, he’s aggressive, he’s a physical defender and we just think there’s more upside to come,” he said.
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Davidson mentioned “upside” multiple times.
Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard, last year’s No. 1 pick, announced the Hawks’ selection of Levshunov.
Boisvert, an 18-year-old native of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, had 68 points (36 goals, 32 assists) in 61 games for Muskegon last season.
“I can’t even describe it,” Boisvert said. “It’s great. Best feeling I’ve ever had.”
Marr said Boisvert has “grit.”
“When push comes to shove, he’s going to make sure he comes out on top,” Marr said. “When he’s on his game, he’s front and center and you notice when he’s on the ice. He’s a very hard player to check (and) very hard player to stop.”
Responded Boisvert: “I’m proud to have that part to my game. Being a skilled guy but also a physical guy with a lot of grit who defends teammates and just go and do everything on the ice.”
Vanacker, 18, of Delhi, Ontario, had 36 goals and 46 assists (82 points) in 68 games for OHL Brantford last season.
“Honestly, kind of speechless,” Vanacker said. “Just amazing feeling, something I’ve worked toward my whole life. So to have this happen on this night is super surreal.”
He said of his game: “I bring a lot of skill and a lot speed. I like to turn defenders.”
The trade with the Hurricanes leaves the Hawks with four Day 2 picks Saturday: two third-rounders (Nos. 67 and 72), a fifth-rounder (No. 151) and a sixth-rounder (No. 163).
As expected, the San Jose Sharks selected forward Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 pick. The Boston University center was just the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player. The nation’s youngest player at 17 finished second with 34 goals and third with 64 points.