The Blackhawks added a lot of talent up front and it could mean less ice time and a lesser role for Kurashev.
There are a lot of possible line combinations for the Chicago Blackhawks to figure out leading up to puck drop on opening night. With all of GM Kyle Davidson's strong off-season additions to his team's lineup, some players' roles might decrease.
This will likely happen to last season's breakout forward Philipp Kurashev in 2024-25 after spending the entire 2023-24 season linked to Connor Bedard on the top line and first power play unit.
Philipp Kurashev (left) and Connor Bedard.
Kurashev was one of Chicago's steady hands all last season, finishing third in goals (18), second in assists (36), and second in points (54) on the Blackhawks. But while there was no competition for his role on the top line, a healthy Taylor Hall, trade acquisition Ilya Mikheyev, and free agent signings Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen will have something to say about it.
Let's first ask the question, why would head coach Luke Richardson and the Blackhawks take Kurashev off the top line with Bedard when those two worked great together last season? While those two, more than any other forward duo on the team, should be together to start the season at the very least, combinations will be tested and tinkered with in the preseason to see what might work off the bat or as a secondary option.
There could be better options that can produce, but the chemistry is already there between Bedard and Kurashev. In terms of how each played together and apart, Bedard had slightly better analytics without Kurashev while Kurashev had worse numbers without Bedard on the ice at 5-on-5 with him. The Blackhawks were bad last season and together or each of the two without the other didn't have good analytics either way.
There is likely going to be more movement among forwards in 2024-25 throughout the season. The Blackhawks want to be better and are going to be, but the coaching staff can't stand by and do nothing when something isn't working. There is much more competition for playing time at the top of the lineup and Kurashev or any other player aren't just going to be gifted playing time without constantly proving they deserve it night in and night out.
Kurashev might have had 18 goals and 54 points last season, but Bertuzzi scored 21 goals and has played with elite players on multiple teams, Hall scored 20 goals and 61 points in his last full season (2021-22), and Teravainen put up 25 goals and 53 points last season, so there is no shortage of skilled players who can be just as or more impactful as Kurashev in the spot he held all of 2023-24.
If Kurashev stays on the top power-play unit as well, that means one of Hall, Bertuzzi, or Teravainen will have to play on the second unit. This is something the Blackhawks should be comfortable with though.
Kurashev might spend time on the second line apart from Bedard at points in the season and while Kurashev's ice time should be reduced from 19:01 per game, he will still get ample time amongst the top-6 with good players. He's only 24 years old and could get a whole lot better after breaking out.
