DENVER — The No. 2 total decide is about to make his NHL debut.
The Blackhawks referred to as up prime prospect Artyom Levshunov on Sunday after he performed his fiftieth AHL recreation Saturday. The transfer burned their third of 4 allotted post-trade deadline call-ups, however on this case, no person is considering a lot about that.
Levshunov is anticipated to play in his first NHL recreation this week, presumably as quickly as Monday in opposition to the Avalanche. After that, the Hawks proceed their street journey Thursday in opposition to the Sharks (and No. 1 decide Macklin Celebrini) and Saturday in opposition to the Canucks.
The Hawks will most likely need the 19-year-old Belarusian defenseman to expertise Rockford’s high-stakes video games on the very finish of the common season and within the AHL playoffs, so his NHL stint would possibly solely final a pair weeks, giving him only a style.
He arrives because the Hawks, driving a five-game level streak, search to proceed taking part in their finest hockey of the season. Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom have supplied wonderful goaltending, which ought to assist forestall Levshunov’s inevitable rookie errors from resulting in too many discouraging targets in opposition to.
Levshunov has improved immensely from the beginning of Rockford’s season till now, however outdoors the Hawks group, opinions are divided on whether or not he’s fairly NHL-ready but or not. Even Hawks brass doesn’t know for sure, they usually’re OK with that.
“Lots of instances, you don’t know [if someone is ready] till you strive, till you see it,” Rockford interim coach Mark Eaton stated Sunday.
Levshunov’s ups and downs within the fall weren’t too stunning, contemplating how little high-level North American expertise he possessed coming into this season. It took him a while to study what works and what doesn’t in opposition to professionals.
He has surged since January, nevertheless, racking up 11 factors in his final 14 video games to get to 22 factors on the season. His 137 photographs on purpose rank third amongst AHL defensemen.
“He’s beginning to ingrain a number of the professional habits into his recreation: the constant compete degree and urgency degree,” Eaton stated.
“Lots of instances, much less is extra, proper? [It’s about] not going out of your method to attempt to create offense however [rather] being environment friendly together with your puck motion on retrievals and popping out of ‘D’-zone. [He’s] preserving it easy within the offensive zone, becoming a member of [rushes] on the proper instances, getting photographs via and creating rebounds. It sounds easy, however doing it constantly is one thing that he has gotten higher with.”
Levshunov has arguably improved most within the defensive zone, sustaining tighter gaps and stricter positioning whereas utilizing his imposing 6-2, 210-pound body to interrupt up performs.
“[He’s] taking extra delight within the defensive zone and…being sturdy in entrance of the web,” Eaton stated. “[He’s] closing shortly when it’s his job to shut on the puck-carrier.
“He has elite quickness and elite energy. When he’s utilizing it constantly, he could be a drive within the defensive zone. After which I feel he’s beginning to understand that taking part in good protection, being sound there, goes to can help you possess extra pucks.”
This technically isn’t Levshunov’s first NHL call-up this season. He beforehand got here as much as take part in just a few Hawks practices in the course of the AHL All-Star break in early February. However this call-up is rather more vital.
The Hawks now have eight defensemen on the roster. That isn’t inherently an issue as a result of there’s no restrict after the deadline, however it’ll create some powerful choices for Hawks interim coach Anders Sorensen.
Younger defensemen Ethan Del Mastro, Louis Crevier and Wyatt Kaiser have all stepped up since Seth Jones’ departure, so will probably be fascinating to see which one Sorensen removes to slot in Levshunov. Embattled veteran T.J. Brodie, in the meantime, has been a wholesome scratch for the final 4 video games and is now buried even additional down the depth chart.
