Although Jeff Blashill was obviously displeased with the Blackhawks’ overall performance Saturday in a 4-0 loss to the Golden Knights, the coach was pleased with one player: Artyom Levshunov.
“I think Arty played probably his best game of the year, certainly from the defensive and physicality side,” Blashill said Monday, noting Levshunov’s best offensive game probably came Dec. 30 against the Islanders.
During practice, Blashill moved Levshunov up to the top pairing alongside Alex Vlasic and moved Louis Crevier, who struggled Saturday, down to the third pairing. That’s likely how the Hawks will line up Tuesday against the Wild.
The fact Levshunov has restored Blashill’s trust and climbed the lineup this quickly since the Olympic break is notable, considering the much-scrutinized Belarusian entered the break exiled from the lineup for a foundational reset.
He certainly has looked steadier over the past few weeks. It was unfortunate that his third-period goal Saturday off a slap-shot bomb was overturned upon review, because he deserved that reward.
Even though the Hawks still have been outscored 10-3 during his five-on-five ice time since the Olympics, most of those goals against haven’t been his fault. His positioning has been sounder; his puck management has been safer.
“[I’m] feeling better, for sure. Feeling improvement in my game,” Levshunov said Monday.
“I’ve improved more my defensive side. Not only me — our team [has] started to play better defense than before. For me as a defenseman, the most important thing is to play good, hard defense, [be] physical, use my body and skate, skate, skate.”
Analytically, the Hawks’ five-on-five team defense ranks an impressive 12th in the NHL since the Olympics, allowing 2.61 expected goals against per 60 minutes — and Levshunov, at 2.55, is better than the team average.
The problem is the Hawks have generated the fewest expected goals for (1.92 per 60 minutes) during that span, but that’s hardly surprising given their current forward lineup.
Levshunov has also taken on penalty-killing duties since Connor Murphy’s departure. Blashill said Levshunov is still “learning how to gap in the neutral zone” on the penalty kill, but he believes his good instincts in chaos can be particularly advantageous shorthanded.
Jeff Blashill mentioned this goal-saving play Saturday in Vegas as an example of Artyom Levshunov’s ability to make smart instinctive reads in chaotic situations: pic.twitter.com/OVPxMJnHRe
— Ben Pope’s Video Clips (@BenPopeCSTclips) March 16, 2026
That’s part of the Hawks’ general focus on Levshunov’s defensive play of late. Around Christmastime, they were pushing him more offensively, and they perhaps pushed too far in that direction.
“We want him to reach his offensive ceiling, but it can’t be at the sacrifice of defense,” Blashill said March 1. “Arty may became an offensive player. He might be. But I think he’s going to be a really good player no matter what because he’s really strong [and] he’s going to be able to defend really well.”
That afternoon in Utah, Blashill went on to compare Levshunov to Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, another top-10 pick whom he coached as a rookie in 2021-22.
Seider’s 50 points that season still stand as his career high, but defensive growth since then has transformed him into a top-20 defenseman in the league.
Levshunov admitted Monday he sees “some similarities” between himself and Seider. But in a clear sign that his quiet self-confidence has returned, he didn’t want to narrow down his potential too much.
“I want to be myself,” Levshunov said. “I want to be even better [than Seider]. Why not? It’s more interesting to be better than others.
“I have a lot of opportunities and possibilities, and it’s all about work and desire to be better every day and be the best in the future. That’s my opinion.”
Note: Hawks forward prospect Sacha Boisvert signed his three-year NHL entry-level contract Monday, turning pro as expected after his tumultuous sophomore year at Boston University ended Saturday. Boisvert can’t begin practicing until his U.S. work visa gets approved, which could take a few days.
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