{"id":553658,"date":"2026-03-30T05:43:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T05:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/553658\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T05:43:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T05:43:15","slug":"blackhawks-rookie-artyom-levshunov-sidelined-with-hand-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/553658\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackhawks rookie Artyom Levshunov sidelined with hand fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEWARK, N.J. \u2014 Blackhawks<\/a> rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov\u2019s struggles in the last two games make more sense now.<\/p>\n

The Hawks discovered Levshunov had been playing through a \u201csmall fracture\u201d in his left hand that he suffered Tuesday against the Islanders, coach Jeff Blashill said Sunday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a tough kid,\u201d Blashill added.<\/p>\n

Levshunov is now sidelined with an indefinite timetable pending further imaging, which should be done Monday when the Hawks return to Chicago. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s very possible, if not likely, his season is now over, considering the Hawks have just nine games left (including Sunday against the Devils).<\/p>\n

The Hawks are coming off back-to-back hideous losses against the Flyers and Rangers. During Levshunov\u2019s ice time in those two games, those opponents collectively outscored the Hawks 6-1 and outshot them 26-14.<\/p>\n

It has been an up-and-down first full NHL season for the 20-year-old Belarusian, who peaked around New Year\u2019s, bottomed out before the Olympic break and had been relatively solid since the break<\/a> until this setback.<\/p>\n

He has two goals and 22 assists (second among rookie defensemen) in 68 games, but he also has a minus-41 rating. That\u2019s heavily influenced by the fact he\u2019s played sizable minutes (19:35 per game) against opponents\u2019 top lines on one of the league\u2019s worst teams, but it\u2019s ugly nonetheless.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really excited about the way Arty has trended,\u201d general manager Kyle Davidson said earlier this month. \u201cCertainly when you look at where he was a couple years ago to where he was a year [ago to now], I think it\u2019s constant improvement. Maybe not constant upward trajectory, but in general, the arrow is definitely pointed up. We\u2019re really excited about that. We think the sky is the limit for this kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kevin Korchinski was called up to take Levshunov\u2019s spot, and he will make his fifth NHL appearance of the season on the third pair alongside Ethan Del Mastro against the Devils.<\/p>\n

Anton Frondell will play center tonight for the Blackhawks.<\/p>\n

Blashill: \u201cHe hasn\u2019t played center all year, so it\u2019s probably not the easiest position to put him in \u2014 I recognize that. But he\u2019s played center a lot in his life, and I think he\u2019s got traits to be a really good 200-foot\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n