Blackhawks scratch Artyom Levshunov against Maple Leafs for arriving late
The Chicago Blackhawks will be without defenseman Artyom Levshunov on Tuesday night for their road matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs , as head coach Jeff Blashill told WGN Radio’s Charlie Roumeliotis and others that he would be a healthy scratch after arriving to the rink late.
The 20-year old blueliner has carved himself out a consistent role with the Blackhawks this season, after playing 18 NHL games in 2024-25. This year, he has hit the ice for 31 games and has yet to play an AHL contest, scoring one goal and 13 assists in the NHL.
Selected second overall in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Levshunov reportedly missed a rep of his five-on-five drill at Monday’s practice, with Blashill emphatically shouting “wake the F up,” towards the young defenseman.
Several reporters in attendance, including Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, said it was the “angriest [they’ve] ever seen him.”
Blackhawks running the same lines in practice today as they used Saturday. Levshunov just missed his rep in a 5-on-5 drill and got absolutely reamed out by Blashill to “wake the F up.” That’s the angriest I’ve ever seen him.
His absence takes another talented young player out of the lineup for the matchup against the Maple Leafs, with star forward Connor Bedard out injured until at least the new year with an upper-body injury.
Although Levshunov’s absence hurts their on-ice quality, the Blackhawks can still be confident in their methodical rebuild and heading into a matchup against the Maple Leafs, who are coming off a 6–3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Chicago, meanwhile, entered Tuesday’s game at Scotiabank Arena sitting three points behind the San Jose Sharks for the final Western Conference Wild Card spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, albeit with a game in hand.
They are also looking to snap a two-game losing skid, after dropping results against the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings.
Barring exceptional circumstances, Levushonov would return to the Blackhawks’ lineup on Thursday night for the next stage of their road trip against the Montréal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.