Prospect Info: 2024 2nd Overall - Artyom Levshunov

[Taze em]

Is Levshunov even #1 in his own class right now if you put up a poll on the mainboards? because I've seen people say Zeev has been awesome and Dickenson

This is exactly the problem with this fanbase right now. Why would you use a poll on the mainboards as proof of who is better? No shit Levshunov would get SEWERED in that poll.
#1) He is a hawk and hawks are pedos
2) LOL Hawks incompetent way behind in rebuild Demidov is better
3) Levshunov is Belarussian so there is no WJC heat for him compared to Buium.
4) Dickinson was awful in the WJC but is canadian and therefore has stats and an entire country ready to carry water.
5) No one watches the AHL nor does anyone know how to put an 18/19 year old AHL defensemen season in much context.

The only thing the Hawks are guilty of this year is getting MURDERED in PR battles. The Biz's of the world have no idea who Nazar is, who Rinzel is, etc. They are buying narratives they see online from Canadian and Canadiens twitter and Hawks fans have too. For example, where did this narrative that Bedard is unhappy? It is projection. It is jealousy. And it is wishful thinking by the league because controversy is fun.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Have you watched Lev? Because from people on here and media members, Lev has actually been pretty good for a 19 year old in the AHL. Now if all you do is stat line watch, then sure, not that impressive. But defensemen develop differently than forwards. Who though Vlasic becomes what he did, not a guy who lit up the AHL.

went through some of his stuff today that others have posted with his shifts, his skating and elusiveness jump out but he seems lax at times as well, Demidov to me just screams premier superstar two way winger in his prime, we'll see with both in time what the correct decision was for KD...if the upside comparable is McAvoy vs Kucherov give me Kucherov every time

 

[Toews2Bickell]

This is exactly the problem with this fanbase right now. Why would you use a poll on the mainboards as proof of who is better? No shit Levshunov would get SEWERED in that poll.
#1) He is a hawk and hawks are pedos
2) LOL Hawks incompetent way behind in rebuild Demidov is better
3) Levshunov is Belarussian so there is no WJC heat for him compared to Buium.
4) Dickinson was awful in the WJC but is canadian and therefore has stats and an entire country ready to carry water.
5) No one watches the AHL nor does anyone know how to put an 18/19 year old AHL defensemen season in much context.

The only thing the Hawks are guilty of this year is getting MURDERED in PR battles. The Biz's of the world have no idea who Nazar is, who Rinzel is, etc. They are buying narratives they see online from Canadian and Canadiens twitter and Hawks fans have too. For example, where did this narrative that Bedard is unhappy? It is projection. It is jealousy. And it is wishful thinking by the league because controversy is fun.

to be fair there were plenty of people that had Zeev, Dickinson etc in the same tier or higher than Levshunov going into the draft so its not just a hate Chicago thing...the Bedard being uphappy thing started the minute the lottery was done despite Subban saying on ESPN 'this is where he wanted to be'

 

[Taze em]

to be fair there were plenty of people that had Zeev, Dickinson etc in the same tier or higher than Levshunov going into the draft so its not just a hate Chicago thing...the Bedard being uphappy thing started the minute the lottery was done despite Subban saying on ESPN 'this is where he wanted to be'

Zeev, yes. Dickinson not even close. It was Levshunov 1, Zeev 2 (with some 1 votes), Silayev/Parekh/Dickinson, then Yakemchuk.

11 teams didn't pick Buium. The Hawks picked a credibly better prospect, but they are penalized in the court of public opinion because the team's behind them foolishly let Buium drop too far.

Anyway, Levshunov is a freak of a skater with size and he has already shown an amazing ability to get pucks on net as like... a quadruple "underager" in the AHL. Even if he never finds that elite defensive positioning and stick work in the next 4-5 years his skating, zone exit and entry ability, and seeing eye shot will play in the NHL and make him an extremely useful player. Demidov will have to be one incredible winger to outvalue that. If he does, tip your cap and move on.

 

[ploppsdman]

I can see the skill but I'm worried Lev has too many Seth Jones similarities: good at a lot of things but no exceptional tools; somewhat apathetic looking play at times; good skater w good offensive instincts but doesn't possess a great shot.

 

[Darkstar]

I was not a fan of the Lev pick and I had multiple concerns about him, that I posted about here. That said, Dmen take time to develop and one thing about him that I'm not concerned with him is physical talent. Demidov isn't the sure thing that some claim he is and neither have done a damn thing at this level. Misa could be the impact forward we want and he's a better skater than Demidov.

 

[ello]

I can see the skill but I'm worried Lev has too many Seth Jones similarities: good at a lot of things but no exceptional tools; somewhat apathetic looking play at times; good skater w good offensive instincts but doesn't possess a great shot.

Jones is actually more talented in my opinion. Lev seems like he plays a heavier game all around which could be useful defensively but yea otherwise in terms of impact I see him in a similar tier as Jones

 

[ello]

This is exactly the problem with this fanbase right now. Why would you use a poll on the mainboards proof of who is better? No shit Levshunov would get SEWERED in that poll.
#1) He is a hawk and hawks are pedos
2) LOL Hawks incompetent way behind in rebuild Demidov is better
3) Levshunov is Belarussian so there is no WJC heat for him compared to Buium.
4) Dickinson was awful in the WJC but is canadian and therefore has stats and an entire country ready to carry water.
5) No one watches the AHL nor does anyone know how to put an 18/19 year old AHL defensemen season in much context.

The only thing the Hawks are guilty of this year is getting MURDERED in PR battles. The Biz's of the world have no idea who Nazar is, who Rinzel is, etc. They are buying narratives they see online from Canadian and Canadiens twitter and Hawks fans have too. For example, where did this narrative that Bedard is unhappy? It is projection. It is jealousy. And it is wishful thinking by the league because controversy is fun.

Levshunov wasn't even popular on main boards before the draft. He's not a very popular prospect and it's not hard to see why, given how little his game "pops" and the lack of engagement and motor that still plagues guys like Jones in his 30s.

Big, mobile RHD who put up big numbers as prospects are always going to be popular with GMs tho

 

[CanadianHawks]

Pretty sure the narrative would be vastly different if Lev was the best player on an outstanding MSU team instead of learning the pro game at 18. Also if he was able to play at WJC.

Not suggesting this was wrong for his development but the casual fan watched the WJC and rates prospects based off the tournament and guys putting up monster numbers in JR and NCAA

 

[ColbyChaos]

Why does Demidov get the benefit of the doubt in your paragraph and Levshunov doesn’t. You can just say “Demidov projects to be a 100 point winger and Levshunov projects to be a Norris type defender”.

They tried to get Demidov too everyone needs to get over it. Two other teams also passed on him. The negative PR hawks fans are buying from bitter haters who were our B*^ch their whole lives have a firm grasp on a lot of Hawks fans.

“Demidov better be a 100 point winger because Levshunov is projected to be a Norris caliber defender” an equally valid sentence.

If Lev was left handed and not right handed it’s debatable if he goes as high as he does.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Maybe people put too much emphasis on the WJC. It’s one short tournament and the selections seem to be political anyway. I’m not going to do any digging on this but I’m sure there are plenty of examples where guys have bad tournaments and end up being awesome NHLers. I’m sure there are plenty of examples where highly touted prospects have great WJC’s and end up being lousy NHLers.

Lev has promoted himself from league to league every year for 3? 4? years now. It’ll be a long time before we see whether or not Demidov was the right move.

 

[Taze em]

If Lev was left handed and not right handed it’s debatable if he goes as high as he does.

But he isn't left handed. He's right handed. The scarcest position in the NHL. I do not want to rehash the 1000s of words I wasted in the draft run up. There is a reason QBs go higher in drafts than middle linebackers. You have them or you don't and there's very few if any opportunities to get them. Two Way Centers (like true two way... elite offense and defense) and RHD (like true two way RHD, elite offense and defense).

 

[ColbyChaos]

But he isn't left handed. He's right handed. The scarcest position in the NHL. I do not want to rehash the 1000s of words I wasted in the draft run up. There is a reason QBs go higher in drafts than middle linebackers. You have them or you don't and there's very few if any opportunities to get them. Two Way Centers (like true two way... elite offense and defense) and RHD (like true two way RHD, elite offense and defense).

As was already said Lev wasn’t even the best Dman in the class just because he is right handed doesn’t make him magically better than other D in the class. If Hickey was right handed would you have taken him over Kane? After all RD is scarce and Kane plays a much less valuable position

 

[Taze em]

As was already said Lev wasn’t even the best Dman in the class just because he is right handed doesn’t make him magically better than other D in the class. If Hickey was right handed would you have taken him over Kane? After all RD is scarce and Kane plays a much less valuable position

There’s a type of bad faith argument you’re making here that I won’t engage with much. Suffice to say, Kane vs. Hickey is not the comparison.

But let’s play your game! In 2017 Would New Jersey rather keep Nico Hischier or have RHD Cale Makar? There are plenty of times it’s worked out the other way.

 

[HawksDub89]

Is Levshunov even #1 in his own class right now if you put up a poll on the mainboards? because I've seen people say Zeev has been awesome and Dickenson

You’re just saying stuff lol. Why does Demidov project as a 100 point player? Based on what

 

[Taze em]

Youngest player on the ice by a long shot.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

You’re just saying stuff lol. Why does Demidov project as a 100 point player? Based on what

because I think he's going to end up a Kaprizov/Kucherov type player? ultimately you're trying to project the unknown with incomplete data/information, I look at the skill set and his production in the KHL right now and say yeah thats a PPG type player as a base case and his upside is the wingers I mentioned but I think he's going to be a complete winger that can play an all situations 200 ft game tbh...and you can think what you think about Levshunov, we will know who the right pick was 3-5 years, doesn't mean Levshunov can't develop into an important piece of the next competitive hawks team even if you prefer the pick was Demidov

 

[WarriorofTime]

Levshunov wasn't even popular on main boards before the draft. He's not a very popular prospect and it's not hard to see why, given how little his game "pops" and the lack of engagement and motor that still plagues guys like Jones in his 30s.

Big, mobile RHD who put up big numbers as prospects are always going to be popular with GMs tho

I've been on this board consistently since 2010, and in that time, "popular on main boards" means absolutely nothing. Not saying that in a snobby, elitist, "I know everything more than everyone else" sorta way. People just don't have enough time or "scouting acumen" to have a really good read on the situation of players and just follow popular narratives that gain traction. It's even more extreme on Twitter, where a lot of the "main board" narratives largely come from. For a cross-sport comparison, Josh Allen was considered a laughably terrible selection by the Bills in the NFL Draft while Josh Rosen was heavily praised.

 

[WarriorofTime]

because I think he's going to end up a Kaprizov/Kucherov type player?

Then he should have gone ahead of Celebrini, because a "Kane/Kucherov" is a top 3 forward in the entire NHL, I guess unless it just so happens to be a year there was an Ovechkin/Malkin in the same draft with two top 3 Forwards in the world in their prime.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Then he should have gone ahead of Celebrini, because a "Kane/Kucherov" is a top 3 forward in the entire NHL, I guess unless it just so happens to be a year there was an Ovechkin/Malkin in the same draft with two top 3 Forwards in the world in their prime.

if you think Celebrini is going to be prime Toews then Demidov doesn't go ahead of him but for awhile Demidov was mocked to go 1st overall going back to the year prior mocks...it was the fact that he didn't get to play in the WJC and teams couldn't see him live that probably caused his stock to fall a couple spots...it was at least very much 1/2 with them, not 1/5

 

[WarriorofTime]

if you think Celebrini is going to be prime Toews then Demidov doesn't go ahead of him but for awhile Demidov was mocked to go 1st overall going back to the year prior mocks...it was the fact that he didn't get to play in the WJC and teams couldn't see him live that probably caused his stock to fall a couple spots...it was at least very much 1/2 with them, not 1/5

I'm high on Demidov and voted for him in the "who would you take at #2 poll", I just think those are pretty insanely high expectations. Doesn't fair to judge Demidov on an absolute best case outcome and Levshunov on something different. I do agree the highest ceiling on Demidov is higher than for Levshunov but with whole range of outcomes there's certainly argument to make regarding the specific RHD than the Winger.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I'm high on Demidov and voted for him in the "who would you take at #2 poll", I just think those are pretty insanely high expectations. Doesn't fair to judge Demidov on an absolute best case outcome and Levshunov on something different. I do agree the highest ceiling on Demidov is higher than for Levshunov but with whole range of outcomes there's certainly argument to make regarding the specific RHD than the Winger.

if your upside is McAvoy/Jones vs Kaprizov/Kucherov/Kane type forward which would you prefer? We're talking about the second overall pick in the draft so talking about that kind of upside seems reasonable...Maybe Lev has a tier above those guys but I've seen/read those comparisons for him...is the range of outcomes narrower for Levshunov is the knock on him is his lax play and on/off motor? By all accounts Demidov has the motor and the high end skill to go with it

 

[x Tame Impala]

if your upside is McAvoy/Jones vs Kaprizov/Kucherov/Kane type forward which would you prefer? We're talking about the second overall pick in the draft so talking about that kind of upside seems reasonable...Maybe Lev has a tier above those guys but I've seen/read those comparisons for him...is the range of outcomes narrower for Levshunov is the knock on him is his lax play and on/off motor? By all accounts Demidov has the motor and the high end skill to go with it

Levshunov could end up being more of a Drew Doughty comp than McAvoy/Jones. Player comps are silly regardless as you can see here in this discussion where we're arguing about total hypotheticals. The Hawks scouted Demidov too. They liked Levshunov more. If he can be an all-purpose, top-pairing, RD man for this team then that's a huge add via the draft. We have to wait and see if Demidov's game translates to the NHL just as much as we have to do with Lev

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Youngest player on the ice by a long shot.

What exactly is impressive here?

Shit D and a defender falling down

Lev didn't do anything outstanding here

 

[Taze em]

What exactly is impressive here?

Shit D and a defender falling down

Lev didn't do anything outstanding here

Nobody likes you and HF is your addiction.