The Chicago Blackhawks' restricted free agent forward, Philipp Kurashev, recently went through an arbitration hearing as the team and player couldn't reach a contract agreement.
Kurashev, a 23-year-old versatile forward, had a solid season in 2022-23, but his on-ice value remains somewhat uncertain.
Despite the Blackhawks having ample cap space, they seem keen on keeping his cost reasonable for the long term. Kurashev's deployment has been flexible, but he's yet to establish a consistent identity within the team.
The arbitration award is expected to fall somewhere between the parties' filings. Potential comparables like Alexandre Texier and Dillon Dube's contracts provide insights into Kurashev's potential deal, likely around a $2 million AAV.