Film Room: Artyom Levshunov's ahead of the curve, making him the 2024 NHL Draft's best defenceman

Artyom Levshunov could score at will when he played for Team Belarus in the nation's U20 junior league, as his 63 points in 46 games attest.

It all looked so easy for the 16-year-old defenceman. He could float toward the slot, dangle his way past defenders, and find the corner with his wrist shot with the kind of ease you'd usually only see in practice. Sometimes, it wasn't even that difficult. A slapshot from the point would suffice.

He was unstoppable, and he ended the season on a 10-game point streak, during which he picked up 19 points. All told, Levshunov finished at the top of his team's leaderboard in scoring and fit comfortably into the league's top 10. And he maintained that level of play through the postseason, wracking up seven goals and 10 assists through 13 contests.

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