The Chicago Blackhawks have re-signed forward Ryan Donato, a key contributor and former 31-goal scorer who has thrived in the team’s top-six forward group. However, while Donato returns, the team appears ready to move on from another once-promising forward.
According to a report from The Athletic on Thursday, the Blackhawks are not expected to extend a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Philipp Kurashev.
Kurashev, 25, struggled in the 2024–25 season, tallying just 14 points in 51 games. It marked a significant drop-off from his breakout 2023–24 campaign, where he posted 18 goals, 36 assists, and 54 points in 75 games. His ice time dropped to an average of 13:43 per game, and he fell out of favor with both former head coach Luke Richardson and interim coach Anders Sorensen.
A fourth-round pick by Chicago in the 2018 NHL Draft, Kurashev has appeared in 317 games over five seasons. His strong showing the year prior came largely while skating alongside rookie sensation Connor Bedard. However, his performance declined sharply after that pairing was broken up.
With several young prospects pushing for NHL roles—including Frank Nazar, Colton Dach, Landon Slaggert, and Oliver Moore—the Blackhawks are shifting toward a more competitive, merit-based roster approach. Players like Ryan Greene, Marek Vanacker, Paul Ludwinski, and Nick Lardis will also be eager to prove themselves at training camp.
General manager Kyle Davidson has prioritized building a deeper, younger team through the draft, and Kurashev’s underwhelming season likely didn’t earn him a continued spot in that plan. Still, moving on from him carries some risk.
Letting Kurashev walk without compensation mirrors a previous decision by Davidson in 2022, when he chose not to re-sign Dylan Strome. Strome went on to thrive with the Washington Capitals, notching 82 points this past season. While Kurashev may not have the same upside, there’s always the possibility a change of scenery could unlock his potential.
Ultimately, parting ways with Kurashev isn’t necessarily a misstep, though the Blackhawks might regret not trading him earlier. If the team is ready to shift direction and give younger players a chance, this move reflects that vision.
