Levshunov is not eligible until the 2024 NHL Draft.
| Artyom Levshunov | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 199 | Zhlobin | 2005 | 2023-2024: A |
USHL: Green Bay vs Madison, December 28, 2022: Levshunov totaled 16:16 in ice time including 0:59 on the power play and 0:07 on the penalty kill. He finished the game with 1 goal, 1 assist, -2, 2 shots, 1 PP shot, 2 PIMs, 0 hits, received 1 hard hit, had 1 shot blocked, 1 giveaway, 6 takeaways and he won 60% of his 10 puck battles. An elite talent on the blue line for the Gamblers. Does so many little things right and does everything with a full boat of confidence. On the 1st goal of the game for the Gamblers, he pinches in at the blue line, corrals the puck, spins off an opponent sending a back hand pass through traffic (which eventually ends up in the back of the net). Not the most defensive defenseman but isn’t a liability by any means. Considering his skill set, he can control pucks and limit his defensive zone time by getting to pucks first, keeping possession and breaking the puck out quickly with precise first passes. When going in for loose pucks, attacks his opponents and plays with tenacity and grit. In the offensive zone, shows no sign of backing down. Holds the blue line with confidence and wants himself and his teammates to always play offense. When his teammates have the puck, he filters himself into positions on the blue line where he can get shots off quickly. Scores a goal by doing exactly that. Receives a pass and puts a one timer past the goaltender.
USHL: Green Bay vs Youngstown, December 2, 2022: Levshunov totaled 27:20 in ice time including 6:13 on the power play and 0:27 while short handed. He finished the game with 1 secondary assist, +2, 2 shots on goal, 4 power play attempted shots, 0 hits, 1 hit received, 8 giveaways, 5 takeaways and he won 61% of his 18 puck battles. Levshunov is good with his puck decisions, especially in the defensive zone which allows him to make breakout passes on the tape and avoid turnovers. He plays poised and with confidence in puck retrieval allowing him to make a good 1st pass. He had a great shift in the 2nd period off a face-off win where he exercises a scissors play down the wall from the point and quickly cut the puck to the net on his backhand almost scoring. Then on the same shift, he made another good play keeping the puck in the offensive zone and then slips a pass to Hall on the 2nd goal. He one-timed a shot on the power-play from the point that had good velocity that hit pipe but the way it sounded it could have also hit inside at the top of the net. Levshunov has a good stride and covers the ice in all 3 zones well. His shootout attempt was stopped as he slowly weaved in toward the net and then tried a quick forehand/backhand move. Certainly a good name for the 2024 NHL Draft. Grade: B+
USHL: Green Bay vs Youngstown, December 1, 2022: Statistical Game Report: 24:37 TOI, 3:35 PPTOI, 0:10 PKTOI, -3, 3 SOG, 3 PPSOG, 0 Hits, 1 SBL, 3 Giveaways, 12 Takeaways and 82% puck battles won. Levshunov plays a solid overall game. Showed mobility and poise at the point to get pucks to the net in finding shooting lanes or a pass option. He does not wind up instead takes quick snapshots from his offensive blue line. He made a bad dump into the far corner that led to a stretch pass and 1st goal against. His play does not scream at you, it’s just good defensive positioning, stick checks, and the ability to transition and make those short passes in the defensive zone. He made a good quick breakout pass in the 2nd period that led to a scoring chance. He plays with poise and confidence and does not show any panic in his game. He will definitely have many eyes on him for the NHL Draft in 2024. Grade: B+
USHL Showcase, November 15, 2022: Often times in a tournament like this the best player in the event is not the best prospect as you have 16 year olds playing against 20 year olds but Artyom Levshunov was both. A late ’05 NHL teams will have to wait another year before they can draft him but he’s a rare talent with his size strength skating ability and two-way game. He’s 6’2′ 200lbs and displays impressive lower body and core strength and one several occasions was able to knock opponents clean off their feet when going for the puck. He’s a poised puck handler made opponents miss in the neutral zone when leading rushes up the ice and scored a hard release catch and shoot wrister on the power play from the top circles. He also displayed a heavy slap shot and snap shot from the point and is a legit scoring threat anywhere in the offensive zone with his power and ability to walk the line find the seam and immediately snap the shot off. Levshunov has a calmness with the puck he doesn’t rush his progressions he’s not rattled by forecheck pressure and he can shield opponents from the puck with pure strength and balance and he also has the stickhandling ability to maneuver through and around them. He made a brilliant stretch pass through the neutral zone which sent Vantassell in on a breakaway which he was stuffed but the pass showed not only his vision but his poise and puck control to keep his eyes down the ice and wait for him to break free and then deliver a perfect pass on the tape. He quarterbacked their top power play unit he made crisp passes all over the offensive zone to set up scoring chances and when he had a lane to the net he didn’t hesitate and would take the ice that was given. Defensively he’s excellent 1v1 and in the hard areas because of his strength toughness and athleticism/mobility but from a positional standpoint he’s undisciplined. He chased after puck carriers wide he had his stick in the air at times when it should have been on the ice blocking lanes and he took some poor angles which allowed forwards the space to cut inside on him or walk him out of the corners. Easily coachable issues that will likely be corrected as he gets more exposure to playing North American hockey and gets more acclimated to the league but he’s a serious NHL Draft prospect with early around potential. Looked like a man among boys at times not just physically but his poise and composure with the puck and this is a late ’05 playing his first games in junior hockey in North America – as impressive a performance as we saw in this event. Grade: A
USHL: Green Bay vs Muskegon, October 15, 2022: Right-shot defenseman with lots of upside to his game. Lots of talent as he’s able to read his opponents well (that are pressuring him) and make plays accordingly. Would retrieve pucks with confidence use the net as protection and break the puck up ice quickly. Not afraid to hop into the rush and join the forecheck as a defender. Could play a bit reckless at times but he oozes confidence and it allows him to play the way he does. Played up top on the PP and did a great job quarterbacking it. Didn’t force plays and kept it simple ‘ by doing so his PP unit-maintained possession and garnered grade-A chances by not forcing turnovers. Grade: B+
USHL: Green Bay vs Fargo, September 30, 2022: Artyom has superb ‘hockey sense/IQ.’ He was able to make up for his mistakes because of his skating and smart angles. If he can learn to spend more time between the dots to defend and carry the puck, he could emerge as one of the best defensemen in the USHL at a young age. He is confident poised and strong over the puck. Away from the puck, he tends to fade outside the dots but also can recover when the puck is turned over. He has enormous potential. Grade: A-
USHL Preseason: Green Bay vs Dubuque, September 2022: Artyom has OUTSTANDING hockey sense … he sees the ice as good as anyone at a young age. He is confident and composed. The only negative is that he gets caught outside of the dots at times when he doesn’t need to be in those spaces. Levshunov’s poise is excellent, and his puck decisions were great all night. With his length and poise, he will be a great player as he develops. Grade: A
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images