Blackhawks top defense prospect Artyom Levshunov could miss up to six weeks with a foot injury sustained earlier this month, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on today’s “32 Thoughts” podcast. That would sideline him for the entire training camp and potentially cost him some time at the beginning of the regular season.
Friedman said earlier in the week that Levshunov would miss some time after taking a puck to the foot, but there wasn’t much concern about the severity. He added today that the 2024 No. 2 overall pick will spend at least the next two weeks in a walking boot.
It was far from a guarantee that Levshunov would make the opening night roster. If he misses all of camp, that’s almost a surefire sign he’ll be sent to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs to make his professional debut when he’s ready to play. The 6’2″ right-shot defenseman turns 19 next month and is coming off a spectacular one-and-done showing for Michigan State, leading their blue line with 35 points (9 G, 26 A) in 38 games with a team-high +27 rating. He was named the Big 10’s Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
However, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson wants to give his defense prospects room to breathe in Rockford, signing veterans T.J. Brodie and Alec Martinez in free agency to create increased competition for spots among up-and-comers. Levshunov likely had the most accessible pathway to a roster spot as a right-shot D-man, though. Chicago’s other question marks – Wyatt Kaiser, Kevin Korchinski, and Isaak Phillips – are all lefties.
If Levshunov is out for the full six weeks, his season debut would be in late October. He can play up to nine NHL games this season before his entry-level contract goes into effect.
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