The Chicago Blackhawks will finish the 2025–26 season without two of their primary defensemen. Head coach Jeff Blashill announced today, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, that rookie Artyom Levshunov and veteran Matt Grzelcyk have been ruled out for the final stretch of the campaign.
Levshunov and Grzelcyk are both out for the season, Blashill said
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 31, 2026
Levshunov, selected second overall in 2024, saw his first full NHL season come to an early end due to a fractured left hand. Levshunov suffered the fracture during a 4–3 win over the Islanders on March 24. While he guttingly played through the injury for two more games, he was ultimately sidelined after the team's medical staff determined the severity. The Belarusian defenseman finished with 24 points in 68 games. Levshunov proved to be a workhorse for the Hawks, averaging 19:33 of ice time per night and ranking among the league's top rookie defensemen in blocked shots and transition efficiency.
Grzelcyk, 32, has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since the first period of a March 22 matchup against the Nashville Predators. The veteran blueliner took a high hit during a scrum and has missed the last four games. Coach Blashill confirmed Tuesday that Grzelcyk’s recovery timeline extends beyond the regular-season finale. Grzelcyk recorded 12 assists in 69 games while leading all Blackhawks defensemen in Corsi-for percentage (46.9%) at 5-on-5.
Kevin Korchinski was recalled from AHL Rockford on Sunday to fill the void left by Levshunov. Ethan Del Mastro and Sam Rinzel are expected to see top-four minutes for the remainder of the season.