Chicago takes Boisvert at No. 18, trades up to No. 27 for Vanacker
LAS VEGAS — The Chicago Blackhawks selected Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft Friday evening.
2023 Calder Trophy winner and NHL Rookie of the Year Connor Bedard announced the pick for Chicago, who went with a Belarusian defender from Michigan State University to help build out their roster.
During his lone season at MSU, Levshunov was a second-team AHCA All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player and Freshman of the Year. The 6-foot-2-inch defenseman was also a top ten finalist for the Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year Honors and a Hobey Baker nominee on his way to a 9-26-35 scoring line, coming two points shy of the Spartan’s freshman defenseman scoring record.
Pick No. 18
With their second first round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft Friday, the Blackhawks took Sacha Boisvert, a center from the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League, at No. 18.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jordan Hull, Boisvert is a center with great size, an advanced shot and the fervor to play the full length of the rink.
In 61 games with the Lumberjacks as an 18-year-old, Boisvert notched 36 goals and 32 assists for 68 total points.
His 36 goals ranked fifth among all USHL skaters, while his 68 points shared 11th among all league skaters. He also appeared in eight postseason games with the Lumberjacks in 2023-24, notching three assists. Additionally, Boisvert was named to the USHL’s Third All-Star Team.
Trade! Blackhawks acquire pick No. 27
The Blackhawks traded picks No. 34 and 50 to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for pick No. 27 in the first round, with which they selected winger Marek Vanacker from Ontario, Canada.
Vanacker played with the Ontario Hockey League’s Brantford Bulldogs in 2023-24, where he managed 36 goals and 46 assists in 68 games played.
With the selection of Vanecker, Chicago has made eight selections in the first round over the last three years:
- D Kevin Korchinski
- C Frank Nazar
- D Sam Rinzel
- C Connor Bedard
- C Oliver Moore
- D Artyom Levshunov
- C Sacha Boisvert
- LW Marek Vanacker
The Blackhawks have four remaining draft picks in this year’s NHL draft, including No. 67 (3rd), No. 72 (3rd), No. 138 (5th) and No. 163 (6th).