Blackhawks Lose Arbitration Case Against Kurashev

In most cases, negotiations go smoothly, and the team's 23-man roster is set well before the puck drop. However, there are instances, when players and their agents believe they deserve more money than the team, is willing to offer, leading to arbitration to settle the deal.

Usually, NHL teams reach an agreement with the player before the arbitration process begins. However, this was not the case for the Blackhawks and centerman Phillipp Kurashev. Today, it was announced that the arbitration awarded him a two-year contract worth $2.25 million per season.

Kurashev, a 23-year-old player, participated in 70 games last year, managing to score nine goals and provide 16 assists, resulting in a modest 25 points. As he enters his fourth season with the team, his numbers have not shown a significant increase in terms of point production and his plus-minus rating.

Surprisingly, despite the decline in his plus-minus over the past two years, the arbiter believed he deserved this contract.

It should be noted that Kurashev is expected to be placed on the 3rd or 4th line of the team for the upcoming season, depending on the assessment of head coach Luke Richardson and his performance.

The silver lining in this signing is that the Blackhawks are currently in a rebuilding phase, and they only have to commit to paying him this amount for two years. After that, if he fails to meet expectations, they can release him and make him an unrestricted free agent.