Blackhawks Rook Levshunov's Game Takes a Hit, Coaches Seek Reset on "Foundational" Skills
Artyom Levshunov's woes on the ice have reached a boiling point, prompting Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill to pull his rookie defenseman from the lineup. The 20-year-old Belarusian was replaced by fellow rookie Sam Rinzel in Friday's game against the Blue Jackets, with Blashill opting not to send him down to Rockford to gather more experience.
Instead, the coaching staff has devised a miniature program to "reset some foundational things" in Levshunov's game. Working closely with assistant coach Anders Sorensen and skills coach Brian Keane, the trio aims to address three key areas: puck play, defensive footwork, and shooting technique.
Puck play is a major concern for Levshunov, as his accuracy has waned significantly since January 7th. The Blackhawks have been outscored 16-3 during his five-on-five ice time, with an alarming 119-70 disparity in shots on goal. "The puck should always be delivered in the right spot," Blashill noted, referencing a particularly egregious breakout pass to Andre Burakovsky that allowed the Panthers to score against the Hawks.
Defensive positioning and footwork are also areas where Levshunov struggles. His game has become overly reliant on instinct, leading to lapses in structure and soundness. "He's an instinct player that's got to learn how to play with enough structure," Blashill said, warning that an imbalance between offense and defense can have devastating consequences.
The final area of focus is Levshunov's shooting technique. While his physical strength is undeniable – Blashill likened him to a "freak athlete" – the Blackhawks are seeking to optimize this attribute through modern sports science. This could involve tweaks to his stance, release, and follow-through.
As the Olympic break approaches, Levshunov may or may not be called upon for the Hawks' final two games. While Blashill suggested that the rookie's struggles have not been severe enough to warrant demotion, he also emphasized the importance of "trial by fire" in helping players grow from their mistakes. With fatigue levels running high across the league, particularly among the Hawks' young and inexperienced roster, this period will be crucial in determining the team's trajectory.
Artyom Levshunov's woes on the ice have reached a boiling point, prompting Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill to pull his rookie defenseman from the lineup. The 20-year-old Belarusian was replaced by fellow rookie Sam Rinzel in Friday's game against the Blue Jackets, with Blashill opting not to send him down to Rockford to gather more experience.
Instead, the coaching staff has devised a miniature program to "reset some foundational things" in Levshunov's game. Working closely with assistant coach Anders Sorensen and skills coach Brian Keane, the trio aims to address three key areas: puck play, defensive footwork, and shooting technique.
Puck play is a major concern for Levshunov, as his accuracy has waned significantly since January 7th. The Blackhawks have been outscored 16-3 during his five-on-five ice time, with an alarming 119-70 disparity in shots on goal. "The puck should always be delivered in the right spot," Blashill noted, referencing a particularly egregious breakout pass to Andre Burakovsky that allowed the Panthers to score against the Hawks.
Defensive positioning and footwork are also areas where Levshunov struggles. His game has become overly reliant on instinct, leading to lapses in structure and soundness. "He's an instinct player that's got to learn how to play with enough structure," Blashill said, warning that an imbalance between offense and defense can have devastating consequences.
The final area of focus is Levshunov's shooting technique. While his physical strength is undeniable – Blashill likened him to a "freak athlete" – the Blackhawks are seeking to optimize this attribute through modern sports science. This could involve tweaks to his stance, release, and follow-through.
As the Olympic break approaches, Levshunov may or may not be called upon for the Hawks' final two games. While Blashill suggested that the rookie's struggles have not been severe enough to warrant demotion, he also emphasized the importance of "trial by fire" in helping players grow from their mistakes. With fatigue levels running high across the league, particularly among the Hawks' young and inexperienced roster, this period will be crucial in determining the team's trajectory.
coach blashill is trying to help him out here... i mean i can relate when u make a mistake on the ice and ur team gets roasted for it 
i hope he gets his act together before the olympic break, the hawks need him ASAP 
️ now levshunov's gotta work on that accuracy thingy... and don't even get me started on his shots... he's got that sweet left hand, but it's all over the place 
defensivly though, i feel him, we all make mistakes when we're young... just gotta find that balance between instinct and structure, you know? 
the coaching staff's doin' their thing, so fingers crossed he'll be back to form soon 
. It's all about puck play, footwork, and shooting technique... sounds like he's not just relying on his instincts anymore 
. I'm curious to see how it plays out during the Olympic break – will they bring him back in for the final two games?
. I mean, every player has off games or periods where their game falls apart. But at the same time, you don't wanna be stuck with a rookie who can't get his head around basic things 
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. Maybe they'll be able to tweak some of Levshunov's technique or just help him develop more structure in his game 
. The thing is, though, even if they do get him back up to speed, he's still gonna have to deal with fatigue from the whole season... it's a tough road ahead for that kid 
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and he's just losin' it 
the hawks r goin thru a tough time rn, especially w/ their young roster, so maybe givin levshunov a lil more time'll help 'em turn it around 
gotta work on accuracy tho, can't just rely on instinct 
. and dude needs to get his defensive feet on the ground 
. when's he gonna see some actual practice and playtime? 
. I mean, come on, dude, you're a defenseman – keep the puck in front of you, don't just launch it down the ice like you're playing soccer 
. And his shooting technique? Forget about it 
it's def a combo of lack of structure & instinct play. i feel bad 4 him b/c coach blashill is tryin 2 help him out 
... but if they're gonna send him back out there, should it be with a bunch of tweaks or just straight up sit him? 
and btw, i'm not sure if the hockey thing is even what's most important right now - fatigue levels are pretty concerning across the league 
. The emphasis on "trial by fire" is also spot on, as this period will undoubtedly be a baptism by fire for the rookie defenseman amidst high fatigue levels across the league