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“Why?" the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft
casually said of nerves. “It's a hockey game. I've got to go and
do my job, play hard.”
The 19-year-old from Belarus held up quite well, too. He skated
for almost 21 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Nathan MacKinnon and the
high-flying Avalanche. The game was scoreless before the
last-place Blackhawks faltered in the third period.
“They’re a really good team. They have a lot of good players,”
Levshunov before the loss. “I have to play better.”
Attempting to stop Colorado, with all its scoring and speed, can
only build confidence.
“That is almost better, getting thrown into the wolves here with
(Cale Makar) and Nate just flying at you,” second-year forward
Connor Bedard said. “Every team you play has great players, but
those two guys are flying. Every night you’re playing against
great players so I think there’s going to be challenges every
game.”
The 6-foot-2, 208-pound Levshunov missed the start of the season
because of a fractured right foot. He was recalled by Chicago on
Sunday from Rockford of the American Hockey League, where he had
five goals and 17 assists in 50 games.
“Of course, I was dreaming about this all my hockey life,” said
Levshunov, who signed an entry-level contract with Chicago in
July after spending one season at Michigan State where he was
named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. “I was waiting
for this a long time."
Bedard offered a piece of advice — soak in the moment.
“We’re not putting any pressure on him or anything,” Bedard
said. “Just play his game. There’s always learning curves with
anyone. We know he’s going to be great, and we’re just excited
for him.”
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