Tuesday's doctors appointment could change it all for Blackhawks Artyom Levshunov
The Chicago Blackhawks fans have some positive news in the pipeline about the 2nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Artyom Levshunov has been out since the preseason, and the Blackhawks have felt the pain. The prospect unable to skate was out with a foot injury( a fracture) after blocking a shot on September 11th, 2024.
He'd receive a timeline of four more weeks to return, and it looks like that was accurate as he is now skating with the Blackhawks.
This morning he was seen skating by the CST's Ben Pope, with Isaak Phillips. Could this be a sign he's ready to make his debut in Rockford soon?
He still has a doctor's appointment to go to, which could confirm whether the prospect is ready to play hockey again after being out a month, after fracturing his foot blocking a shoot.
"If everything goes well with his next (doctor) visit, in the next seven days, he can start skating at least. So I think he'll be looking forward to that," Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. "He's around the facility. We kind of have to kick him out most days but yeah, he's super eager to go. He's pretty disappointed but he's able to do a lot of other training, so it's not like he's sitting around, sedentary, doing nothing."
Levshunov was excited to be back on the ice, and happy to feel better. The 2nd overall did address the media during this morning's skate, along with coach Luke Richardson:
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson wouldn't say if Levshunov will stay around the NHL team for long after he's activated or if he's headed to Rockford immediately. But he did confirm Levshunov has been involved in team meetings so the systems are already being built with him.
«Today was the first morning skate, so hopefully he'll get in a few practices this week and management will make that call, the best spot for him to start because he really missed even rookie camp and training camp,» Richardson said Tuesday. «He's kind of behind on that part of it.»
Soon enough we'll find out what Arty Party is made of, when he does make the trip to Rockford and develops into the future top pairing defenseman, the Blackhawks hope he can be.
