Blackhawks’ Artyom Levshunov excited for NHL debut against Avalanche: ‘It’s incredible’

DENVER — Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorensen could’ve eased rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov into the NHL with a morning skate Monday and a practice Wednesday before a game against the Sharks on Thursday.

Instead, the Hawks are throwing Levshunov into the fire. The No. 2 overall pick will make his NHL debut Monday against Nathan MacKinnon’s Avalanche, one day after his call-up.

“Let’s get after it, right?” Sorensen said Monday morning. “It’s the NHL, right? [If] you want to be in the NHL, you’re going to play the best.”

Levshunov will be sheltered to some extent on the third pairing with wise veteran Alec Martinez, but Sorensen won’t have last change and therefore won’t get to fully dictate Levshunov’s matchups. Some shifts against MacKinnon will be unavoidable, and the rest of the Avalanche aren’t lightweights, either.

The 19-year-old defenseman isn’t worrying too much about that, though, as excitement courses through his blood stream. His family won’t be in attendance, but they will be watching on TV at home in Belarus, where the game will start at 4 a.m. local time.

“I was dreaming of this moment all my hockey life,” Levshunov said. “For sure, it’s unbelievable to make debut tonight. It’s incredible.”

Sorensen’s advice to him: “Just play your game, and we’ll adjust as we go.”

Dickinson returns

Jason Dickinson, the Hawks’ best defensive forward, will also return to the Hawks’ lineup against the Avalanche after missing just over a month with an ankle injury.

He somewhat surprisingly slots in as the first-line right wing next to Bedard at center, although they’ll split faceoff duties and down-low coverage in the defensive zone.