Michigan State defender selected No. 2 by Blackhawks

Artyom Levshunov followed an outstanding freshman season and was drafted as one of the highest picks in Michigan State history.

The 18-year-old defender from Belarus was selected as number 2 by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday night in Las Vegas.

This is the earliest a Spartan has been selected in the draft since Rob Brind’Amour went ninth to the Blues in 1988. Levshunov is only the third Spartan to be selected in the top three of the draft – Joe Murphy went No. 1 to the Red Wings in 1986 and Craig Simpson went No. 2 to Pittsburgh in 1985 – and the first Belarus-born player to be selected in the top five.

As expected, Boston University center Macklin Celebrini was selected No. 1 by the Sharks on Friday night. Levshunov, a right-handed defender and considered by many to be the best defenseman in the draft, was next.

Levshunov, who stands 6’2″ and weighs 200 pounds, played one season for Green Bay in the USHL before joining the Spartans. He was the team’s second-leading scorer with 35 points on nine goals and 26 assists and finished with a plus-27 rating. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, as well as a second-team All-American.

Levshunov was instrumental in the Spartans’ turnaround under coach Adam Nightingale, who won the Big Ten regular season and tournament title before losing to Michigan for a spot in the Frozen Four.

It’s unclear if Levshunov will return to East Lansing for his sophomore year. That depends on the Blackhawks’ plans and whether they want him to coach at the college level for another year.

“It’s possible,” Levshunov said during the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month when asked if he would play another year for the Spartans. “We’ll see after the draft.”