Artyom Levshunov

With a North American season under his belt last year with Green Bay, he put his great size to use and show offensive skills. He has now started his college career at Michigan State where he started the season at a point per game pace. He has enough positive attributes to put him firmly in the discussion as the best prospect at his position for the 2024 Draft, and the one closest to NHL ready. He projects as a top four defender with the upside to be more. He is the third youngest player in college hockey and as of February 2024 he was producing at a point per game pace. Despite competition against older players, he has been playing big minutes and done nothing to suggest he is out-matched. He has excellent four direction skating ability, but doesn't much stray from letting the game come to him, efficiently relaying pucks and closing on attackers without overplay. That doesn't mean he won't calculate when it is time to attack, and can surprise goalers close in, or thread passes laterally to an open teammate in on the look. He gets his shots through and is well versed with his transition passes. He isn't necessarily an attacking defenseman, as an opportunistic one, so it may be difficult to gauge this part of his game as a pro, especially early on. There iss no denying he can transport very quickly in most situation, and has a strong backpedal that closes ice very fast and well. Raw in many phases but there is no denying that with development, he will gain first hand knowledge and his reads & follow through. He seeems to be a strong candidate as the first pair defensive guy in a pair. He'd be that guy who when his offensive pair partner takes off, he can anchor and close ground on opponents who will find out how solid he is. There are also indications he can continue improving his work defensively, and that might go a long way to cementing himself as a true early defensive selection with two-way prowess.

                                                             --Bill Płaczek--