Blackhawks believe newly drafted Artyom Levshunov has 'all the upside in the world'

WSCR-AM / 670 The Score

On the Mully & Haugh Show, Charlie Roumeliotis discussed the Blackhawks' mindset in selecting defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 overall pick in the NHL Draft.

Transcript

00:00I did the Hawks pick Artie, the party, second overall and what did you think about the three

00:06first round picks? Yeah, I think the Hawks really like Lev Shanov's upside. I've seen a lot of

00:14comparisons of Lev Shanov as a Brent Seabrook type player, but I think the Blackhawks are looking

00:21more at him like if he fills out his frame and he becomes a really dependable two-way defenseman

00:27that he already is at Michigan State and continues to grow into that role. They see him being an

00:33all-situations type guy, a bonafide number one. I thought it was interesting actually,

00:39Mike Donahue had said he had come over from Belarus and he really didn't have an off-season

00:46to train last summer because he went straight into college and they feel like he's six foot two,

00:52205 pounds and they still feel like he's behind the curve physically. So I think if he

01:00rounds that out, the Hawks feel like he has all the upside in the world.

01:05Does he play for the Blackhawks next year as he goes back to Michigan State? Is there any decision

01:11on that and is he ready to play in the NHL? Yeah, it's a good question. Kyle Davidson told us after

01:18the draft that it sounded like they had kind of already thought about this and they know what

01:24they're going to pitch to his agent. So I think the option would be go back to Michigan State for a

01:28sophomore season or turn pro, but I don't believe it would be to play on the Blackhawks. I think it

01:34would be to go play in the minors for a year or even half a year and if they feel he's already

01:40ahead of the curve, then you bring him up for the second half. But I think there's no point in

01:44rushing, especially a defenseman. 18th overall, Sasha Boisvert and then 27, they move back into

01:51the first round, Charlie. Merrick Vaneker, what do you think about those picks and is Boisvert

01:57a boxer as well, apparently? Yes, the thing I like about Boisvert is he's a six foot two and

02:04he's a center. I think size down the middle is crucial and if you look at the Stanley Cup playoffs,

02:10like Alexander Barkoff, he was the guy that really helped shut down Leon Dreisaitl in that

02:15Stanley Cup final series. So you really need a big center down the middle and I don't think

02:22the Blackhawks really have a ton of that in their pipeline. So adding him to the mix, I think, is a

02:28real positive. And then trading up to get Merrick Vaneker, he's actually Nick Lardis' teammate in

02:33the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL and when Nick Lardis got hurt in Brantford, Merrick Vaneker

02:39stepped into his role and flourished in that role. So it's kind of funny that they're both

02:45now going to be in the Blackhawks organization. But get this guys, the Hawks have had eight first

02:50round picks in the last three years. It hasn't happened, I think it's been 50 years since a team

02:56has had that many first rounders in a three-year span. So the Hawks, they've had a lot of opportunities

03:01to hit on their first round picks. Now let's see if they actually do hit in a few years.

03:06Yeah, I'm curious, they just signed Bertuzzi this morning. That's a good signing and

03:14did they spend the table money? In other words, there's rumors of them going after a

03:21backup goalie. What are they spending their money on and how much do they spend?

03:28Yeah, so the Tyler Bertuzzi signing is expected to be a $5.5 million cap hit over four years.

03:36Per year for four years. I think it's a really solid signing. One, he's a top six forward. Two,

03:42go look at the scouting reports on this guy. It goes to the dirty areas and agitating for

03:47to play against. But also two years ago, he had 30 goals and 60 points. So he's like exactly the kind

03:52of winger that you're probably hoping that Conor Vardar can play with because he can go do the

03:58dirty work and be a guy that can protect Conor out there. And also the contract is not longer term

04:04where it would get in the way of the Blackhawks getting ready to pay some of their younger guys

04:08when they are. You did mention the backup goalie. I wouldn't be surprised if the Hawks did sign

04:14someone behind Peter Mrazek to compete for that job. Because Arvid Soderblom didn't really do a

04:20great job last year of holding down that spot. I still think there's an opportunity for the

04:26Blackhawks to go out and sign Tabo Tarabainen if there's mutual fit. I just if it's anything

04:33beyond four years, I think that's where the Blackhawks will bow out because I don't think

04:36they want to get in the way of the Frank Nazars, Oliver Moors, Kevin Korchinski, their contracts.

04:44And then the last name I saw earlier was linked to Chicago was Jordan Martinuk. He's more of a

04:49bottom six forward guy. So it's not really a sexy name, but it's another guy that would add

04:56some grittiness to this roster. You want sexy names? I'll give you sexy names, Charlie. Tell

05:01me what's going to happen with Mitch Marner. Tell me what's going to happen with Stephen

05:04Stamkos. And tell me if the Hawks have even a remotest chance of being in the mix there.

05:11I don't think so. I think the Stephen Stamkos market, like I went to bed last night and it was

05:15Nashville and Detroit. They're going to make a run. And then I wake up this morning and it's like

05:20New Jersey is in and Vegas is in. And it's like, oh man, like no chance the Hawks are going to be

05:26able to compete with the term or salary on that. So the Stamkos is a pipe dream. Mitch Marner,

05:34man, there is like conflicting feelings on him, whether Toronto is really pushing to trade him or

05:41if they're actually talking extension. Maybe there's a scenario where he gets extended and

05:46then traded just to kind of make it easier on the newer team. But I'll say this, Vegas is always

05:53big game hunting and they will move pieces around to make it happen. So if they're not,

05:57if they don't land Stamkos, I wouldn't be surprised if Vegas, I mean, this is probably a move that

06:04could have come at the draft. So I don't expect this to happen anywhere, but it's like, if Mitch

06:07Marner goes to Vegas, like it would have been surprising to me because it feels like Vegas is

06:12always in around the big guys. Fun stuff. Great stuff, Charlie. Great talking to you. Really

06:17appreciate it, buddy. Thanks, Charlie. No problem, guys. Have a great week.

06:20That's Charlie Romeliotis from NBC Sports Chicago. Great reporter. Did a terrific job at the draft.

Category

Transcript

Recommended