Michigan State Hockey: Artyom Levshunov NHL Draft primer

Michigan State hockey standout defenseman Artyom Levshunov learns where his future begins as he prepares for the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas.

For the first time since 2004, Michigan State hockey is preparing to have a player drafted in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. After a stellar freshman year that helped Michigan State get their first Big Ten regular season and tournament championships, he is poised to go within the top three of the draft.

Levshunov was an exceptional offensive defenseman with a physical presence last season. There are not many players going into their draft eligible season that can be physically intimidating as well as score at nearly a point per game average (.920 points per game). He is also great in transition.

Simply put, he makes the game look easy.

The question now is which organization Levshunov will join. It is all but guaranteed that Macklin Celebrini will be selected at No. 1 overall by the San Jose Sharks. Due to that, most mock drafts have gotten the answer down to one of two teams, the Chicago Blackhawks or the Anaheim Ducks.

Chicago Blackhawks

One year after winning the draft lottery and selecting Connor Bedard with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks have the second overall pick. The question is, what are the biggest needs for the Blackhawks, and does Levshunov fit them?

In reality, the Blackhawks still need everything. They are a team deep in a rebuild, and after selecting a top-end forward last year in Bedard, it might be time for them to shift to the blue line. Getting a top end defenseman like Levshunov would allow him to develop behind the likes of guys like Seth Jones and Kevin Korchinski.

Levshunov would be a solid pick for Kyle Davidson if he is looking to start build up the blue line. While Levshunov would provide a big help for the future, the Blackhawks are hard to predict. They could go either way with this pick. Many other mock drafts have them selecting forward Ivan Demidov from Russia to give Bedard some more help on offense.

Recent smoke coming out of Blackhawks camp is reporting that Levshunov may be the priority target for the second overall pick. This is the NHL Draft though, so anything can happen.

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks, fresh off a new rebrand to the classic Mighty Ducks logo are looking to make a splash at the third overall pick. Over the past few years, the Ducks have put a big emphasis on building up their offense in the organization. Some of the best examples being Trevor Zegras, Cutter Gauthier, and last years first-round pick Leo Carlsson. This leaves a desperate need on the blue line for a prospect cupboard that is lacking at defense.

Like the Blackhawks, the Ducks need a lot. Levshunov would be a great addition to this very young organization who by every right should be a force in the Western Conference within the next few seasons.

Having such a highly skilled offensive defenseman, especially on the powerplay would make the Ducks immediately better.

Where will Levshunov play next year?

The biggest question for Michigan State hockey fans on this topic revolves around not only where Levshunov will be drafted, but where will he play next year. Levshunov will have two options once he is drafted. He will either be returning to East Lansing to play with the Spartans, or he will be in the NHL. Levshunov will not be eligible to play in the AHL (American Hockey League) next season because of his age. The AHL has an age limit of 20 years old if a player is coming from the a junior league like the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) or if they are playing college hockey in the US. This will really depend on if Levshunov is deemed to be NHL ready. Most of that work will be done in training camp for whatever team chooses him.

Based on his profile, Levshunov is looked at as one of the most NHL ready draft prospects in this years class. That doesn’t mean it is impossible for him to come back to Michigan State, just unlikely. It is by no means set in stone though. I would say there is about a 40 percent chance that Levshunov returns to Michigan State. The biggest thing that the Spartans have in their corner is that we have national title aspirations. NHL teams love letting great prospects wait another year to give them a shot at meaningful games that they might not get at the NHL level. There is also something to be said about bringing in a winners mentality to a struggling team.

This situation has played out recently with Michigan. In 2021, Owen Power was selected 1st overall by the Buffalo Sabres and decided to return to Michigan after being drafted. I am happy to say that it didn’t work, but that sets precedent for high draft picks returning to college hockey after being drafted. Levshunov may want to run it back with the Spartans and expand on what happened last season. We will likely find out within the coming months what that decision will be. It will likely depend on what team ultimately selects Levshunov.

The first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft starts Friday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN from the Sphere in Las Vegas. Coverage will continue on Saturday on ESPN+ for rounds 2-7 beginning at 11:30 a.m.