Kurashev Heating Up on Top Line
Although Philipp Kurashev has produced career highs in assists and points in his sophomore season, the forward hasn't taken as big of a step forward as the organization would've liked after a relatively strong rookie season in 2020-21.
After being a healthy scratch in back-to-back games, head coach Derek King made a surprising move that has begun to pay dividends: putting Kurashev on the top line with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
«[In an] ideal world he's got to be a top-six player,» King said, according to John Dietz of the Daily Herald. «We put him in a role where hopefully this is something that he'll be able to do. He's taken full advantage of it. He's shown us that he can play that top-six [level]. So hard to take him out of the lineup now and he's earned it. So good for him.»
Earning it, as King referred to, has come in the form of three points in two games on the top line. He scored against Dallas before notching a pair of assists in Tuesday's loss to the Kings.
«Most of my life I played on the top two lines,» said Kurashev. «Obviously that's where I'm trying to get to on this level too. So I'm going to work my hardest to try to get there.»
| POLL | ||
Do you hope to see Kurachev with the Blackhawks throughout their rebuild? | ||
| Yes | 63 | 69.2 % |
| No | 28 | 30.8 % |
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