Artyom Levshunov of Michigan State Hockey is selected second by the Chicago Blackhawks

The 2024 NHL Draft began on Friday night in Las Vegas, and it didn’t take long for Michigan State University defenseman Artyom Levshunov to hear his name called and make a dream come true.

Levshunov was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks as the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft after one season with the Spartans. Boston University forward Macklin Celebrini went to the San Jose Sharks as the No. 1 pick.

Levshunov scored nine goals and had 26 assists in 38 games with MSU last season and led the Big Ten with a plus-27 rating. He was the Big Ten Defenseman and Newcomer of the Year and was named to the First Team All-Big Ten.

There is a possibility that Levshunov could return to MSU for his sophomore season to continue developing, and the Blackhawks will decide whether Levshunov takes that route or signs with the team for next season.

Levshunov is the first player drafted by MSU in the first round since 2008 and the first to be selected in the top three since 1986. He is also the first Belarusian-born player in NHL Draft history to be selected in the top five.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared in the Lansing State Journal: Michigan State’s Artyom Levshunov selected second in NHL Draft