Philipp Kurashev is jumping from one rebuild to another.
On Tuesday, the San Jose Sharks agreed to a one-year deal with Philipp Kurashev worth $1.2 million. This should not come as a surprise, as the Blackhawks did not tender him a contract yesterday.
Kurashev heads to the Bay Area, despite them being in the same situation as Chicago
The Sharks will try to see if he can help their help rebuild after it looked like for one season, Kurashev would help the Hawks in theirs.
After being drafted 120th overall in the 2018 draft and three underwhelming seasons, Kurashev broke out during the 2023-24 season.
He racked up 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points in 75 games. However, that season seemed to be a one-year blimp as he regressed in 2024-25. He recorded seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 51 games. Numbers that more align with what he did in his first three years in the league.
Now, you can make the argument that the Blackhawks are in no position to give up on a young player like Kurashev. He's only 25, and the Hawks had the second-lowest point total in 2024-25. Why not keep him on the roster and hope he can rediscover what made him good just two seasons ago? But Kurashev has been on the Blackhawks for five years now and has only had one good season. At some point, you have to cut your losses and move on.
The Blackhawks are looking to win more games next year, and they can't have a player who's still trying to figure it out. You need to have a player who can play the role that's asked of them and not be a liability. Especially on the third line, a line whose importance is increasing after many recent successful teams had their third line play a crucial role in their success.
As of now, the Blackhawks have Andre Burakovsky set to replace Kurashev. This is a much better fit for this current roster. Burakovsky is a 30-year-old forward who can be the goal scorer on the third line, as well as play meaningful minutes on the power play. His almost decade of NHL experience will also help a young team in desperate need of veteran leadership.
Skating for the Sharks gives Kurashev a change of scenery and a new lease on his NHL life. He spent most of the 2025 portion last season being a healthy scratch. By joining another rebuilding club, he can compete for ice time and maybe this time he will provide some more consistency.
