I don’t think I’m alone in saying last year was a disappointing season for Philipp Kurashev. He was playing the final year of his contract with restricted free agency looming, got a few really good opportunities to skate in the Blackhawks’ top six and managed only 25 points in 70 games before an injury prematurely ended his season. After receiving a fairly surprising award in arbitration this summer, even more was going to be expected from the 24-year-old forward. I note his age because it feels like Kurashev has been around for a long time. He’s still only 24.
When his 2023-24 season was delayed because of another injury, the disappointment started to come up again. He missed the season-opening trip and the Blackhawks could have used his speed and tenacity in all of the games. When he did finally get back on the ice, he looked intent on winning a spot in the lineup. Head coach Luke Richardson said he was the Hawks’ best skater in the loss against Boston, but the Blackhawks were shutout and the effort was lacking around him. When he was back flying around the ice on Friday evening, it was encouraging — especially on Connor Bedard‘s wing. When he scored the game-winning goal on a confident shot with authority in overtime, it felt like a potentially defining moment for Kurashev. He’s been really good in his two games thus far. I hope he can stay in the top six and keep playing the way he has because that’s the player we’ve been hoping to see.
Bedard on Kurashev: "Both games, he's been so noticeable. For him to get that one was really exciting. All game, he was buzzing and working plays down low and he had a lot of puck possession. [It's] fun for me to play with him."— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST)
The Blackhawks did not have an update on Alex Vlasic, who left the game after a big collision in the second period. Richardson said he thought it might be whiplash. The team won’t practice on Saturday, so we’ll have to wait for an update hopefully on Sunday.
Before the game on Friday, head coach Luke Richardson acknowledged Andreas Athanasiou was indeed a healthy scratch because he needs to be better. And I know there were some folks on social media (media members included) who questioned the decision to sit an effective forward when the offense is struggling already, but we all need to keep in mind that this season is about development. The coaches are tasked with showing the young players in the lineup how the game needs to be played. If a veteran isn’t pulling his weight, grab a seat for a night and think about the next one. I have absolutely no problem with MacKenzie Entwistle drawing in for a game because one thing nobody can accuse him of is giving less than his best effort. And good things happen when you bust your ass. We’ll see if AA is back in the lineup on Monday night in Arizona — something that might be a tougher sell after the effort in Vegas.
Entwistle will play; Athanasiou is scratched.
Richardson on Athanasiou: "I really value him and think he's a great NHL player, but if you're not playing at the top of your game, then you're not you, so we want someone else to have an opportunity."— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST)
Mike Morreale, who focuses on prospects and the draft for NHL.com, spoke to the folks at NHL Central Scouting about through the first couple weeks of his NHL career. They’re seeing growth and development from game to game and see the skill coming though in spite of the results for the Blackhawks.
“Connor Bedard is that special breed of player that can quickly adapt and produce, whether it’s on-ice or off-ice, to the challenge, task or personal goal that is before him,” Central Scouting vice president Dan Marr said. “He’s doing all this while he’s still only 18 years old and he will continue to evolve into the impact franchise player that has been projected all along.”
“He learns from every shift, and I think we’re just going to be blown away by what we’re seeing 20 games in … certainly by midway point of the season and beyond,” said David Gregory of NHL Central Scouting. “He’s going to be able to do, I think, what he did as a junior player just because he has such elite skill.
“He’s adjusting. He’s getting all these shots off and he’s going to be just fine.”
Connor Bedard has looked very impressive in the early part of this rookie season & will undoubtedly be an 'impact franchise player' for the Blackhawks, according to evaluators of — — Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL)
Jason Bukala at SportsNet wrote an interesting analysis piece looking at . In it, he looks at how Bedard is driving play, his uphill climb defensively in the league and some adjustments he’s making in the faceoff circle. This comment about Bedard driving play was telling:
What’s surprised me ♒most is the amount of respect he is receiving from opponents at this level already꧑. Rarely do rookies have to be game-planned around as much as Bedard. Common thought would suggest veteran NHL defenders would be looking to make life miserable for Bedard by gapping up and playing him tight, especially on zone entries. But that’s not been the case so far. Bedard is driving play in transition through the neutral zone and finding time and space to do what he does best — create high-danger scoring chances.
Medium posted an interesting article on Friday morning that looks at on Google. One of the examples they used was how Bedard’s arrival has influenced search for the Blackhawks. The chart they provided (below) showed a direct tie between Bedard search and Blackhawks search. This isn’t a shock, but the direct parallel is interesting to look at and read about as the season continues.
Connor Bedard scored his second goal in as many meetings against the defending champions – a feat never before achieved by an 18-year-old.: — NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL)
𝔉GameScore I𒁃mpact Card for Chicago Blackhawks on 2023-10-27:
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards)
How about some prospect goals from Friday night? There were a bunch of them! I’m going to lead off with the first of Landon Slaggert‘s two goals last night for Notre Dame. He’s now scored seven times in seven games after scoring seven times in 35 games last year as he battled through some physical issues. He’s now tied for the NCAA lead in goal scoring entering Saturday.
Meanwhile prospect and Notre Dame captain Landon Slaggert is at it again — his 6th already this season
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks)
The nation’s leader in goals 😎
With seven goals through seven games, is tied for first in the country after a four-goal weekend! — Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey)
And a Ryan Greene goal for Boston University
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks)
How about a Paul Ludwinski goal while we’re at it?
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks)
And a Nick Lardis goal?!?
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks)
Let’s get the defensemen some love, too. Here’s a 🚨 from prospect Taige Harding for
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks)
Misiak is tonight's Key Player of the Game after tying it up to send it to overtime! — Erie Otters 🦦 (@ErieOtters)
Steven Ellis at Daily Faceoff took a crack at projecting the USA roster for this winter’s World Junior Championship. In Ellis’ lineup, he has Frank Nazar as the second-line center, Oliver Moore as the third-line center and Gavin Hayes on the right wing on the fourth line. He also included Sam Rinzel as the seventh defenseman. Not bad!
Colton Davies’ roster for the US has Nazar and Moore in the same spots but no Hayes. He has Rinzel on the right side of the third defensive pair.
Earlier in the week he . He did not have Kevin Korchinski on the team, but said this as his rationale:
Let’s be clear: if Kevin Korchinski gets loaned back to the WHL, he’s the No. 1 defenseman, no question about it. But with how he’s playing in Chicago, it’s starting to look unlikely he’ll be available forℱ training camp in Oakville.
Projecting USA’s 2💛024 World Junior Championship roster
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff)
Finally, if you love the Blackhawks win you HAVE to see how the Bulls won last night!
ALEX ꦿCARUSO C🦩ALLED GAME TO CAP OFF AN INSANE BULLS WIN!
Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the and is the author of three books about the Blackhawks: (Triumph Books),"100 Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know &�� Do Bef📖ore They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021🐻). Fin🍌d him on Twitter/X/Instagram/Threads at @The1Tab
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