MSU Hockey's Artyom Levshunov selected second in NHL Draft

The second overall pick in the 2024 National Hockey League draft was the Chicago Blackhawks State of Michigan University Hockey freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov.

I was a little nervous, and I thought (Chicago Blackhawks) might pick me, and it happened and I'm happy, Levshunov said .

The articulate Belarusian blue liner was a top defender for the Spartans during his freshman season, helping the team to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, as well as winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He skated in a pair with the former MSU Hockeys captain Nash Nienhuis .

Levshunov continued his decorated freshman campaign by earning Second Team All-American Honors, as well as a spot on the All-Big Ten first team and All-Freshman team .

We are proud of Arty and how hard he has worked for this moment, said head coach Adam Nightingale. It's a dream come true for a young hockey player to experience what he did tonight. We are incredibly grateful for what he has done for our program over the past year and look forward to his continued development .

Levshunov played significant minutes during his freshman season, with a nine-goal, 35-point season, and led the team in assists with 26. The defenseman was just two points shy of a record-breaking season for most points by a first-year defenseman in history from MSU hockey. He played in all 38 games of the regular season, and also added every game in the post season .

He is now the highest-selected Spartan in the NHL draft in 36 years, the last being current Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod BrindAmour's ninth overall pick in 1986 to the St. Louis Blues. He is now the 12th first-round selection in program history, joining two current teammates, junior forward Isaac Howard (Tampa Bay Lightning) and incoming transfer student, sophomore Charlie Stramel (Minnesota Wild ).

Now that the pick is in the books, future decisions need to be made. Levshunov, as well as his family and the coaching staffs of both the Chicago Blackhawks organization and Michigan State, will further elaborate on his return as a sophomore. season .

Unlike other professional sports drafts, a player in hockey is allowed to return to college or to their respective teams. For the time being, or until they are ready to sign their contract, news of their return is discussed and announced later. time .

All day I thought about the draft and where I would be, Levshunov said. It was a simple day for me, I just showed up to the draft and I got drafted. Life goes on, well, the world goes on. I'm so excited to be part of (the) Black hawks .

In addition to Levshunov finishing second, a current Spartan and two future players were also selected into the program on the day two .

Rising sophomore defenseman, Patrick Geary was selected late in the sixth round at 172 overall to the Buffalo Sabres. Geary is a native of Buffalo, drafted by his hometown team, and is a product of the Buffalo Junior Sabers Program. The New York Blue Liner had five goals and eight assists and played 32 of 38 games .

He scored the winning goal of the Big Ten Championship game in sudden-death overtime against in-state rival University of Michigan. Geary now also joins his second-year teammate Maxim trbkwho was drafted 45th overall by the Sabers in 2023 provisional version .

Two future Spartans, products of the United States National Team Development Program, were also taken in the seventh round of the draft. Both Michigan products, moving forward Lucas Van Vliet was drafted at 197 overall to the Vegas Golden Knight, the first Spartan player drafted by the team, and forward Austin Baker who, at the age of 203, was taken by his hometown team, the Detroit Red Wings general .

Baker joins the team along with second-year netminder Trey Augustine who was drafted in the second round in 2023 and was a senior forward Red Wildwhich was drawn up by the Red-White in 2021 .