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The 2024 NHL Draft, as expected, has upset the order.
Chicago selected Artyom Levshunov, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound defenseman from Belarus via Michigan State University, with the No. 2 overall pick. Terrific as a freshman last season with the Spartans, Levshunov signed an entry-level pro contract on July 6 and will be in Blackhawks training camp in September.
Moore was Chicago's second first-round 2023 draft pick (19th overall) behind Connor Bedard. Moore, from the Twin Cities suburbs, is still on course to make an impact in the NHL, but probably not for a couple of years. He'll return to the University of Minnesota in the fall for a sophomore season along with defenseman and roommate Sam Rinzel, who was ranked fourth in 2024 Future Watch. (We'll have a separate story on the pair of Gophers.)
Levshunov brings an entire package that adds up to be a potential No. 1 defenseman on an NHL team, Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson said. He's projected to be more than a minutes-eater or shutdown D-man. There's speed and offensive potential along with the size.
Of course, at age 18, Levshunov has a lot to learn about reads, gaps, angling, decisions and all the nuances of the position. Odds are he'll play the 2024-25 season with Rockford of the AHL, but Levshunov probably rates as the non-roster Blackhawks prospect with the most upside at the moment.
Praise from Future Teammates
Moore, along with Rinzel, faced Levshunov several times in Big Ten conference play last winter. With MSU in 2023-24, the big defenseman posted nine goals and 35 points in 38 games and was a plus 27 enroute to being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
What really stood out to Moore and Rinzel about their probable future NHL teammate? His wheels and offensive instincts.
"The first thing that really jump off the page is he's very offensive (minded)... jumps in the play but he's smart with it," Moore said. "Obviously with his skating ability and how big he is, he can close really well. He's an all-round player and I think the Blackhawks are pumped to have him for sure" See Moore in the following video.
The 6-foot-4 Rinzel, the 25th overall pick in 2022, sees the same from Levshunov.
"He's big, he's mobile, he's a two-way defenseman," Rinzel said. "You've just got to be aware when he's on the ice. He likes to be sneaky, so wherever he is you just gotta' pay attention. Especially the wingers or forwards, they gotta' kind of be dialed in, knowing where he is all over the ice." See Rinzel in the following video with fellow prospect Ryan Greene, who's headed back to Boston University.
Davidson and his staff were sold on Levshunov in the weeks before the draft, even if they tried to acquire another high pick in Las Vegas to add forward Ivan Demidov.
"I just think the entire package," Davidson said. "Offensively, he can drive offense. Skating, he's super mobile. Got good size. He's aggressive, a physical defender and we just think there's more upside to come. The package, as well as the potential growth let to some it just so intriguing. See following video.
Daniel Weinman was crowned winner of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on Monday, taking home a record breaking $12.1 million in winnings. Weinman had to outlast the other 10,043 entrants to take home the prize and get his hands on his share of live poker’s largest ever prize pool – a staggering $93,399,900. As well as taking home the prize money, 35-year-old Weinman also got his hands on the WSOP Main Event bracelet. The huge bracelet contains 500 grams of 10-karat yellow gold, as well as 2,352 various precious gemstones.
Daniel Weinman won the World Series of Poker's main event world championship on Monday in Las Vegas, earning $12.1 million along the way. Playing in the tournament for a 16th year, Weinman was tops in a deep pool of 10,043 players vying for $93.39 million. His victory came after just 164 hands at the final table. "I was honestly on the fence about even coming back and playing this tournament," the 35-year-old Atlanta native told reporters afterward. Weinman's final table featured Jan-Peter Jachtmann, who landed in fourth place and took home $3 million, as well as Toby Lewis, who finished seventh and secured $1.42 million. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the main event's entry pool far outpaced the previous record of 8,773 set in 2006. "I've always kind of felt that poker was kind of going in a dying direction, but to see the numbers at the World Series this year has been incredible," Weinman said. "And to win this main event, it doesn't feel real. I mean, [there's] so much luck in a poker tournament. I thought I played very well." Steven Jones finished second, securing $6.5 million. And Adam Walton settled for third and a $4 million prize.
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