The Chicago Blackhawks will be without forward Philipp Kurashev for the remaining nine games of the 2022–23 season while he recovers from a shoulder injury, head coach Luke Richardson said Tuesday.
Kurashev, 23, has nine goals and 25 points in 70 games this season. He logged just 1:04 over two shifts in Chicago’s 6–1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Mar. 23.
Richardson said Kurashev’s injury does not require surgery, but he will need time to heal — and, with the Blackhawks already eliminated from playoff contention, it makes little sense for him to return this season.
Kurashev is currently on a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Blackhawks. He’ll be eligible to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and a $787,500 qualifying offer on July 1.
The Blackhawks originally selected Kurashev in the fourth round (No. 120 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. The Swiss center made his NHL debut with the ‘Hawks in the 2020–21 season, recording eight goals and 16 points while appearing in 54 of the team’s 56 games.
Kurashev set new career-best marks in games played (70), goals (nine), assists (16), and points (25) with Chicago this season, although his minus-32 rating is currently the third-lowest in the league (and the worst on the Blackhawks).
Through 191 career games over parts of three seasons with the Blackhawks, Kurashev has collected 23 goals and 62 points. He has yet to make his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.
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