Kurashev, the Swiss national forward with Russian roots, talked about his 2023-24 Blackhawks season on Bedard's flank – on and off the ice – to leading Zürich newspaper, the Tages-Anzeiger

German-language and other European sports media have taken to calling Connor Bedard a "Wunderkind."  It means what it sounds like in English. Maybe just prodigy is crisper and cleaner.

Philipp Kurashev, who had a breakout 2023-24 season as Bedard's linemate on the Chicago Blackhawks, just prefers calling the No. 1 overall draft pick of 2023 a friend.

In a story with the Zürich-based Tages-Anzieger, a leading Swiss newspaper, Kurashev said the main theme the two pals talk about is hockey. And even though Kurashev clicked for 18 goals and 54 points, he had to get used to Bedard's skill and creativity with the puck last season.

"You often think that he can't see you at all and that you're not open, but despite that a perfect pass is suddenly coming," Kurashev said.

Kurashev, whose parents are from Russia, grew up skating in Davos — a posh mountain resort that attracts the ultra-rich — where his father Konstantin was a hockey coach. He's a Swiss national and skated on Switzerland's silver-medal team at the IIHF World Championship.

Kurashev had just two assists and a shootout goal in eight games for the Swiss, who were led by NHL stars Kevin Fiala, Nico Hischier and Roman Josi before falling to Czechia 2-0 in the tournament final in Prague on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Bedard settled for five goals and three assists in 10 games for fourth-place Canada, after scoring all the goals in his first three games. Even Bedard, the NHL's leading rookie scorer last season with 22 goals and 61 points, was eventually contained and constrained by top international opponents. 

"He didn't have a lot of time and space," Canadian coach André Tourigny said after Finland shut down Bedard. "They were on top."

And Bedard's ice time slipped. He was demoted to being a 13th forward.

Bedard The Center of Attention, As Usual

The 18-year-old was not only hounded on the ice, but off it. The hype from his first NHL season spread across the Atlantic as fans watched Bedard closely. He continued to be a favorite subject for media, mostly European outlets and reporters that had never seen or talked to him before.

One reporter asked what it was like being a "Wunderkind" watched by everyone.

"If you had asked me that a couple of years ago, maybe it's different," Bedard said. "I'm grown up now. It's not really the same as much anymore. I'm just playing hockey and just kind of living my life. I'm not too worried about any of it."

Bedard had been looking forward his first appearance at the IIHF World Championship. See video.

Although Kurashev and Bedard weren't teammates at the Worlds, that's the sort of thing that stood out to Kurashev about Bedard's first NHL season.

"Sometimes I felt sorry for him," Kurashev told the Tages-Anzeiger. "He was our player who had to talk to the media the most often. When it had to do with our team, he was always referred to. He had constant appointments — interviews, photoshoots, and what else I don't even know.

"Even at hotels or on the street, everyone constantly wanted something from him."

And Kurashev sensed Bedard was the center of attention on the ice, too. If he touched the puck, everyone in the arena was focused on him.

Kurashev gave a "Chapeau" or hats-off to to how he handled the limelight.

But even alongside Bedard, playing for the struggling 31st place Blackhawks was tough. At 23-53-6, Chicago set a team record for most losses in a season.

"Hockey is a team sport, and when you lose so often, you become tired mentally, then it becomes hard to stay focused positively," Kurashev said.