Anton Levtchi Explained

Anton Levtchi
Birth Date:28 November 1995
Birth Place:Varkaus, Finland
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:185
Position:Forward
Shoots:Left
League:Liiga
Team:Tappara
Former Teams:Florida Panthers
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2016

Anton Levtchi (born 28 November 1995) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing with Tappara in the Liiga.

Playing career

Levtchi made his professional debut playing with his original club, Tappara of Liiga during the 2016–17 season.

In his sixth year in the Liiga with Tappara, Levtchi had a break-out 2021–22 season offensively, leading the Liiga in scoring in finishing tied first in goals with 26 and second in assists with 35 for 61 points through 55 regular season games. He helped lead Tappara to claim the Finnish Championship in claiming the Kanada-malja trophy. He was selected to the Liiga All-Star Team and finished with the Liiga Golden Helmet.

As an undrafted free agent, Levtchi agreed to pursue a career in North America, signing a one-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers on 15 June 2022.[1] By signing with the Panthers, Levtchi was reunited in joining former junior teammate and captain of the Panthers in Aleksander Barkov. After attending the Panthers training camp in preparation for the season, Levtchi was re-assigned to begin his transition to North America to American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Charlotte Checkers on 2 October 2022.[2]

Levtchi registered 13 points through 24 games with the Checkers before he received his first recall to the NHL by the Panthers on 28 December 2022. He made his NHL debut on 29 December 2022, featuring in a depth forward role in a 7-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.[3] Following his second appearance with the Panthers, Levtchi was returned to the AHL on 1 January 2023. Levtchi appeared in a further 11 games with the Checkers, before opting to be placed on unconditional waivers by the Panthers in order to mutually terminate his contract on 31 January 2023.[4]

On 1 February 2023, Levtchi returned to his native Finland, re-joining Tappara of the Liiga for the remainder of the season.[5]

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2012–13TapparaJr. A70114
2013–14TapparaJr. A37817251021120
2014–15TapparaJr. A4717254246
2015–16TapparaJr. A411831495430440
2015–16LeKiMestis90110
2016–17TapparaLiiga130000
2016–17TapparaJr. A30550
2016–17LeKiMestis3511172835
2017–18TapparaLiiga170114
2017–18LeKiMestis279152414
2018–19TapparaLiiga5941923181121318
2019–20TapparaLiiga5913334620
2020–21TapparaLiiga4916294520912316
2021–22TapparaLiiga552635614614191014
2022–23Charlotte CheckersAHL3589176
2022–23Florida PanthersNHL20000
2022–23TapparaLiiga166713311348122
Liiga totals26865124189139478202850
NHL totals20000

Awards and honours

AwardYear
Liiga
All-Star Team2022
Aarne Honkavaara trophy2022
Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy2022
Golden Helmet2022
Kanada-malja (Tappara)2022[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Forward Anton Levtchi . NHL.com . 15 June 2022 . 14 June 2022.
  2. Web site: Panthers assign 10 players to Charlotte Checkers . . 2 October 2022 . 2 October 2022.
  3. Web site: Barkov quick hat-trick lifts Panthers over Canadiens . . 29 December 2022 . 29 December 2022.
  4. Web site: Anton Levtchi leaving the Florida Panthers . floridahockeynow.com . 30 January 2023 . 30 January 2023 . George Richards .
  5. Web site: Anton Levtchi returns home to Tappara . . 1 February 2023 . 1 February 2023 . Finnish.
  6. Web site: Finnish championship goes to Tappara . . 30 April 2022 . 30 April 2022.