Blackhawks Make A Decision On Their Restricted Free Agents..

Philipp Kurashev is a name that surprised me at first just because of his lack of production at the NHL level. Kurashev has been in Chicago for two seasons now, tallying 37 points in 121 NHL games. Kurashev has shown signs of the skill he brings to the ice but has struggled mightily with consistency.

With the Blackhawks in full rebuild mode, bringing back a player like Kurashev makes a lot of sense. For one, there aren't any forward prospects in Rockford ready for the NHL quite yet. There are a few that may make the opening night roster depending on how active the Blackhawks are in free agency, but many of them may come up for short stints later in the season. Secondly, Kurashev is only 22 years old. Kurashev more than likely won't jumpstart himself to a superstar, but he still has time to develop into a nice bottom six forward. With the Blackhawks in a rebuild, all of the pressure is off. Kurashev will have the opportunity to play solid minutes every night and get back to playing the type of hockey that got him signed in the first place.