Head coach Adam Nightingale and the Michigan State Hockey program have been making big moves on the recruiting trail this off-season, but the last-minute addition of incoming freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov to the 2023-2024 roster might just be the largest pickup yet for Nightingale.

It was announced by the university Monday afternoon that Levshunov would be joining the ever-evolving Spartan team alongside 14 other new recruits.

The 6-foot-2 Belarusian played for the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League (USHL) last season where he accumulated 13 goals and 29 assists in 62 games. Before his time in Green Bay, he spent two seasons with the Belarus U17 and U18 squads where he had the second most goals and assists in franchise history.

Levshunov will be draft eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft where he is predicted to get picked up as high as third in the draft. Should the defender be picked up anywhere in the top 10 as projected, he would be the highest Michigan State draft pick since Joe Murphy went first overall to the Detroit Red Wings in 1986.

Artyom Levshunov adds some extended two-way depth to the MSU blue line alongside fellow incoming freshman defenseman Maxim Štrbák who was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

“We're very excited about our incoming players," Nightingale said in the press release. "They are all team-first guys and the type of players and people that our great fan base will enjoy watching. We're looking forward to the upcoming season to show our fans our growth and are hoping to see the same sold-out atmosphere we enjoyed at the end of last season."