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4 Blackhawks on Thin Ice Heading Into December

It's another NHL season where the Blackhawks are projected to miss the playoffs. As a result, these four players' future in Chicago isn't guaranteed.

By Devon Platana

Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall (71) skates with the puck against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.
Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall (71) skates with the puck against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. / Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
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2. Philipp Kurashev, C/RW

Despite the Blackhawks' struggles in recent years, Philipp Kurashev has been a consistent bright spot. The former 2018 fourth-rounder has improved with each passing season in Chicago, resulting in last year's career performance that saw him record personal bests in goals (18), assists (36), and points (54) in 75 games.

With Kurashev only turning 25 in October, Blackhawks fans were excited to see where his trajectory would take him next. But instead of continuing to be one of his team's top young leaders, the Russian forward has struggled with consistency throughout the first quarter of the season.

Typically known for his passing, Kurashev only has one assist through his first 18 games while scoring three goals along the way. His abysmal offense performance has led to him averaging three fewer minutes of ice time compared to his 2023-24 average and his underwhelming performance has gotten to the point where he's been made a healthy scratch by head coach Luke Richardson.

Kurashev will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, meaning it's in his best interest to step up sooner rather than later if he wants a bigger payday.

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