The Blackhawks made a roster move on Monday morning that may have raised some eyebrows initially.
Chicago recalled defenseman Artyom Levshunov from Rockford, bringing the 2024 No. 2 overall pick to the NHL level for the first time. But the team immediately dampened expectations by stating they have no intention of having Levshunov make his NHL debut. Rather, the current AHL All-Star break gave the Blackhawks a window to give Levshunov the “Black Ace” treatment in the regular season:
#Blackhawks have called up top defenseman prospect Artyom Levshunov.
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 3, 2025
Context: He’s not scheduled to play in any games, the organization simply wants him to get a few NHL practices in since Rockford is on its AHL All-Star break. He’s expected to be reassigned later in the week.…
GM Kyle Davidson also released a statement through team regarding the plans for Levshunov:
it's an Arty party in Chicago🥳@Enterprise | 📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/tCdQJtO0kR pic.twitter.com/BDRm8iO0yh
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 3, 2025
The roster spot taken by Levshunov was created when Louis Crevier was placed on injured reserve, as he’s now in the concussion protocol after exiting early from Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers.
Here’s a quick look at Levshunov navigating the practice ice:
No. 2 overall pick Artyom Levshunov practicing with Chicago for the week. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/LlCZNyEtEc
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 3, 2025
It’s certainly not a bad idea to have Levshunov get a closer behind-the-scenes look at the way things work at the NHL level but it’s also fair to feel some measure of disappointment that a player who was deemed worthy of a No. 2 overall pick just eight months prior isn’t ready for a look during an NHL game, even if it was just a brief one. Doesn’t mean the project is ruined, of course — just another thing that’s going to leave us waiting a little longer than initially anticipated.
Other news from Monday’s practice had Craig Smith as a full participant in practice, which suggests he could be closer to playing his first hockey game since Jan. 8 due to a back injury that still has him on IR. He wasn’t among the Blackhawks forward lines at practice and neither was Ryan Donato, although the latter was reportedly due to a “maintenance day.”
There’s also been a lineup shuffle once again, with Landon Slaggert apparently joining Bedard on the top line where Donato will probably skate and Nick Foligno joining up with Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi. The fourth line has Colton Dach and Lukas Reichel with Pat Maroon.
#Blackhawks lineup at practice:
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 3, 2025
Slaggert-Bedard-Kurashev
Teravainen-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Foligno-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Dach-Reichel-Maroon
Martinez-Jones
Vlasic-Murphy
Brodie-Del Mastro
Allan-Levshunov
Mrazek
Söderblom
*Kurashev looks to be placeholder for Donato (maintenance)
That lineup also suggests Nolan Allan may be watching from the press box once again on Wednesday night when the Oilers visit the United Center, which is definitely where a 2021 first-round pick who could actually be part of the long-term future here should be in a lost season. Masterful gambit, sir.
Anyway, it’ll be Hawks and Oilers at the UC on Wednesday night, with a slightly later puck drop of 8:30 p.m. to accommodate another national broadcast, because those have been going so well for the Blackhawks this season.