Levshunov Goes No. 2 to Chicago in 2024 NHL Draft.

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov (Zhlobin, Belarus) was selected No. 2 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Levshunov is the highest selected Spartan in the draft in 36 years – current Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour was the No. 9 pick by the St. Louis Blues in 1988. In program history, only Joe Murphy went higher, as the No. 1 pick to the Detroit Red Wings in 1986. Craig Simpson is MSU's only other No. 2 pick, in 1985 by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"We're proud of Arty and how hard he has worked for this moment," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "It's a dream come true for a young hockey player to experience what he did tonight. We're incredibly thankful for what he's done for our program the last year and looking forward to watching his continued development."

Artyom Levshunov

On Friday night at Sphere – the host venue for the draft – the organization had 2023 first-round pick and 2024 Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard announce the Blackhawks' selection of Levshunov. The top two picks in 2024 - Levshunov and overall No. 1 Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) give college hockey the top two selections in the NHL Draft for the third time in history.

Levshunov is the 12th first-round selection in program history, and joins other first-round picks Isaac Howard (Tampa Bay Lightning, 31st overall, 2022) and Charlie Stramel (Minnesota Wild, 21st overall, 2023) on MSU's current roster.

Levshunov, who does not turn 19 until late October, enjoyed a standout freshman season in Green & White. He earned Second Team All-America honors and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year while also earning a spot on the All-Big Ten first team and All-Freshman team.

He skated on MSU's top defensive pair (with senior captain Nash Nienhuis) and was a Big Ten best +27 (13th nationally). One of the most prolific freshman defenseman scorers in program history, He compiled a 9-26-35 scoring line, two points shy of MSU's freshman defenseman scoring record (held by Jason Wooley and Pat Betterly) and tied for sixth in the Big Ten in assists and 11th in points.

Among defensemen nationally, Levshunov ranked in a tie for eighth in points (second among freshmen defensemen), and tenth in both goals and assists. A finalist for Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year honors, he ranked 11th nationally among all freshman in scoring.

Draft week for Levshunov has included participation in the NHL Top Prospects and Learn to Play On-Ice Clinic along with Player Inclusion Coalition member and Spartan All-American Anson Carter and first-round picks Celebrini (San Jose, No. 1), Cayden Lindstrom (Columbus, No. 4), Tij Iginla (Utah, No. 6), and Zayne Parekh (Calgary, No 9).

Day two of the 2024 NHL entry draft, featuring rounds 2-7, will begin on Saturday morning at 11:30 ET (8:30 PT) in Las Vegas and airs live on ESPN.

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Isaac Howard

Artyom Levshunov

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