After the Chicago Blackhawks wrapped up their morning skate on Tuesday, head coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media and provided updates on the slew of players who are currently out due to injury. None are set to return against Jonathan Toews and the Winnipeg Jets, who are in town for the fourth and final meeting this season.
Over the last three weeks, the injury bug has bitten the Blackhawks pretty badly, as Oliver Moore, Andrew Mangiapane, Artyom Levshunov, and Matt Grzelcyk are all suddenly banged up. Louis Crevier also missed one game two weeks ago, then dodged another injury scare during the recent road trip, as he suffered only a minor laceration after getting cut on the face by a skate blade.
Moore, who endured a lower-body injury on Mar. 8 and hasn’t played since, is already likely to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 regular season. Now, two more Blackhawks have been given the same status by Blashill.
“Grzelcky will be out for the season,” Blashill said in a glum tone. “Levshunov, I would anticipate him [being] out for the season as well… For different reasons, it sucks. Grzelcyk has been awesome. Unbelievable teammate. Unbelievable leader in a quiet way. Obviously, he’s in the last year of his deal, so it sucks he can’t continue to play and showcase his ability.”
“For [Levshunov], it takes away some opportunities for his growth. Unfortunately, it is what it is. That’s part of life. Hopefully, he can learn by observing as well.”
Grzelcyk appeared to have injured his left hand/arm during a post-whistle skirmish on Mar. 22, while Levshunov suffered a small fracture in his left hand two days later on Mar. 24. Levshunov played through the injury for two games before being held out of the lineup on Sunday in New Jersey.
A rollercoaster ride of a rookie season has now come to a close for the 2024 No. 2 overall pick, who finishes with two goals and 22 assists for 24 points in 68 games played. Levshunov currently leads all Blackhawks defensemen in points, while his 22 assists rank fourth overall on the team. Among all NHL rookie blueliners, he ranks second in assists and third in points.
Levshunov flashed his raw talent and incredible skill as a 20-year-old at times this year, but he also went through his share of struggles. Defensive-zone play, decision-making, and proper structure were all issues for him, and they each popped up a bit too frequently.
Just before the Olympics, his poor play reached somewhat of a boiling point, leading to a three-game stint in which he was held out of the lineup. During that stretch, he went through a training-camp-style regimen with the Blackhawks’ coaching staff at practice, working on everything from his shooting mechanics to defensive positioning.
Since returning from the Olympic break, Levshunov had improved his play for the most part, although the occasional bone-headed blunder still occurred every now and then. It wasn’t happening as frequently, at least. Altogether, it’s clear he’s still very much a work in progress. But he does possess the tools to turn into a difference-maker on the back end for the Blackhawks.
Without Grzelcyk and Levshunov, the Blackhawks are left with Alex Vlasic, Louis Crevier, Wyatt Kaiser, Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, and Ethan Del Mastro as their defensive group for the final eight games of the regular season. All six are 24 years old or younger, while Rinzel, Korchinski, and Del Mastro have each played fewer than 100 NHL games. Even before Grzelcyk went down, it was already a remarkably young and inexperienced group.
For Korchinski and Del Mastro, the latest news on Levshunov and Grzelcyk provides a major opportunity before the Blackhawks have to decide on their futures in the summer. The two are set to become restricted free agents in the offseason, and with a crowded blue line, there may not be enough room in Chicago to bring back both.
Additionally, Korchinski and Del Mastro have combined for only 17 NHL appearances this season. Korchinski, a former seventh overall draft pick in 2022, has played in just five big-league games. They’ll now get a chance to prove their cases as to why the Blackhawks should keep them around, and also go into the offseason with some positive momentum.
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