The Chicago Blackhawks chose not to keep Philipp Kurashev around after the disappointing last season. He went from a top liner to someone who couldn't crack the starting lineup at times. Even though he was an RFA, the Blackhawks didn't qualify him and he became a UFA.
Kurashev broke out for 18 goals and 54 points in 75 games during the 2023-24 season, but fell off to just seven goals and 14 points in 51 games last season, playing over five minutes per game less than his breakout campaign.
He has found a new role on his new team, the San Jose Sharks, and has recently been playing like the player the Blackhawks once had. The 26-year-old has four goals and seven points in his last four games, is a +6, and is averaging 21:42 of ice time per game.
Kurashev has worked his way up to the second line and has the fourth-most ice time per game amongst forwards on the Sharks. He is now up to five goals and eight points in 10 games this season and playing with William Eklund and Alex Wennberg.
Kurashev hasn't won a spot on the top power-play unit, but he hasn't needed it, doing all of his scoring at even strength. This is a perfect example of either giving up on someone too early after a rough season and it coming back to bite a team, or how important a change of scenery is in the NHL.
Kurashev is proving that he belongs in the NHL and the 2023-24 season with the Blackhawks wasn't a fluke.
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