A forward has packed his bags and officially leaves the Chicago Blackhawks organization

With the 2025 NHL offseason heating up, roster changes are beginning to take shape across the league, and Chicago appears to be moving on from a player they couldn't move at the last trade deadline.

Indeed, the renowned insider Frank Seravalli revealed that Philipp Kurashev is not expected to receive a qualifying offer from the Blackhawks, which means he will become an unrestricted free agent when the market opens.

In Seravalli's words:

Kurashev, 25, had been part of the Blackhawks organization since being drafted 120th overall in 2018. He spent parts of five seasons with the team and was one of the most consistent contributors in the lineup during the franchise's rebuild. In 2024-25, he scored tallied a career-high total of 43 points, including 14 goals and 29, in 78 games, alongside Connor Bedard.

Letting Kurashev walk for nothing might come as a surprise to some fans, but the decision likely reflects Chicago's long-term roster plans.

For Kurashev, hitting the open market could present an interesting opportunity. He brings speed, versatility, and offensive upside, all traits that several teams around the league may find attractive, especially with the salary cap set to rise in 2025.

While it's not yet official until the qualifying offer deadline passes, all signs point to Kurashev's time in Chicago coming to an end.

We can imagine a team like the Montreal Canadiens being interested. With young Russian star Ivan Demidov set to compete in his rookie year next season, bringing another young Russian player could be a smart decision. Kurashev was even spotted in the Canadiens training facilities, on the ice with Demidov, a few weeks ago.