![\"Artyom](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/a211ca9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/2048x1365+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd5%2Ff2%2F01b853e642f3b3a460b80435c616%2F54290490715-054ef2a9a8-k.jpg\")
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Everything aligned for the Blackhawks to give top prospect Artyom Levshunov his first taste of the NHL this week.<\/p>\n
During the AHL\u2019s All-Star Break, Levshunov was called up to participate in Hawks practices Monday and Tuesday and morning skate Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old Belarusian defenseman won\u2019t play Wednesday against the Oilers and probably won\u2019t be ready to make his official NHL debut until next season, but the practices alone gave him an eye-opening glimpse into this world.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had two spirited practices with a lot of pace and compete [level], and that was a good learning experience for him to see,\u201d interim coach Anders Sorensen said Wednesday. \u201cHe was baffled [by] how quick it was at times. But that\u2019s good. That\u2019s how you realize where you need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Said Levshunov: \u201cI have learned a lot [about] how high-level [it is] here. Everything is, for sure, faster and harder than in the AHL.\u201d<\/p>\n
This entire season is a trial-by-fire for Levshunov, whom the Hawks drafted knowing he would need longer to develop than an average second overall pick. Their development staff has pushed him hard, giving him tons of minutes in the AHL.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re putting him through the wringer, and he keeps going,\u201d defenseman Ethan Del Mastro said. \u201cHe\u2019s got no off-switch. He loves working. You can see him being more mature in his game.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Levshunov\u2019s first 38 AHL games, he has recorded 13 points and 112 shots on goal (second-most among all AHL defensemen) but the IceHogs have been outscored 30-20 during his ice time.<\/p>\n
Rockford interim coach Mark Eaton has talked to him about taking fewer risks joining rushes up the ice, but the Hawks also want him trusting himself to make bold plays when he has the time and space to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a good skater,\u201d forward Jason Dickinson said. \u201cHe\u2019ll be a good transporter of the puck. [He\u2019s] a guy that can break the puck out on his own because he\u2019s got good elusiveness and can break the forecheck.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the moment Saturday in Florida, Alex Vlasic didn\u2019t realize his defensive partner, Louis Crevier, had been concussed by a hit from Panthers forward Jonah Gadjovich.<\/p>\n
After watching the replay, however, Vlasic considered Gadjovich\u2019s shoulder to Crevier\u2019s head \u201ca dirty, unnecessary\u201d play \u2014 and \u201ckind of an obvious one,\u201d at that. It was definitely a missed call by the referees. Sans Crevier, the Hawks moved Connor Murphy onto Vlasic\u2019s pairing Wednesday.<\/p>\n
During the ABC intermission show Saturday, Mark Messier became the latest out-of-touch former NHL star to unfairly criticize Hawks star Connor Bedard, whose disproportionate ratio of fame-to-team success seems to be held against him even though he didn\u2019t ask for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a 19-year-old kid, and he is under a microscope,\u201d Sorensen said Wednesday in Bedard\u2019s defense. \u201cEverything we\u2019re asking him to do, he puts his best foot forward and tries it. Mistakes are part of it. With him, the effort has been there. But he gets highlighted a lot because of his stature and profile of his game. He\u2019s handling it real well. I give him a lot of credit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Veteran forward Craig Smith will return to the Hawks\u2019 lineup Wednesday, making his first appearance since Jan. 8 \u2014 and his sixth since Dec. 7 \u2014 due to a lingering back injury.<\/p>\n
The Hawks will wear their beautiful Winter Classic jerseys again Saturday at the Blues \u2014 their final game before the two-week international break. They\u2019ll also don them at home Feb. 23 against Toronto and March 7 against Utah.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Hawks called up Levshunov \u2014 who missed all of training camp last fall \u2014 to participate in practices this week, even though he likely won’t make his official NHL debut until next season. “I have learned a lot,” he said Wednesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago-blackhawks"],"yoast_head":"\n