Chicago Blackhawks acquire future number-one blueliner in trade with Western Conference powerhouse
On Wednesday,the Chicago Blackhawks acquired a 21-year old defenseman Dmitri Kuzmin from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for 23-year old Isaak Phillips. Moments after the trade was completed, many fans began speculating as to why Kyle Davidson would trade a left-handed defenseman for another one, but we now know why and it's huge.
NHL insider Darren Dreger revealed that the Chicago Blackhawks have traded left-handed defenseman Isaak Phillips to the Winnipeg Jets.
The Blackhawks are too loaded in organizational depth for left-handed players, and sadly Phillips is the odd man out, but the Blackhawks are acquiring another... left handed defenseman?
Philips, a 23-year old prospect who never got his chance to shine in Chicago, is a 6-foot-3, 205 pound defenseman who has appeared in just 54 NHL games since being drafted by the organization.
Kuzmin, a 21-year old prospect who never grazed NHL ice since being drafted in 2021, 82nd overall, and is severely smaller than Phillips; standing at just 5-foot-10, 188 pounds as a defenseman.
Why the Blackhawks acquired a future star in sneaky trade with Winnipeg Jets
We just found out why Kyle Davidson made this confusing move, and it all makes sense. Blackhawks future star Artyom Levshunov, drafted 2nd overall in 2024 by Chicago, is very good friends with Kuzmin.
Growing up only an hour apart in Belarus, the two played minor, junior, and pro hockey together at the World Juniors where they struck gold.
Levshunov is a projected superstar in the NHL and the Blackhawks' future #1 right-side defenseman, going second overall in the draft just like players Aleksander Barkov, Patrick Laine, Jack Eichel, Victor Hedman and Drew Doughty, hopes are high.
With Levshunov's developmental process underway, he most defintely had a say in the Blackhawks' acquisition of Kuzmin, and with great promise of skills from Levshunov in the future, he is likely to bring Kuzmin with him to the NHL level.
Not only has Kuzmin played with Levshunov, but also Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes in the 2022-23 OHL season, where he posted 59 points in 65.
A true genius move for Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks, while many didn't look into the trade too much as it's low-profile, expect to see Kuzmin-Levshunov defensive pairing at the NHL level in Chicago in years to come.
