One player the Chicago Blackhawks must trade in 2025

Ahead of the Winter Classic, the Chicago Blackhawks’ most important game of the season, Philipp Kurashev is not projected to be in the lineup.

Kurashev, who put up a career-best 18 goals and 54 points last season; who had incredible chemistry with face of the franchise Connor Bedard; who looked primed to be a top-six center coming out of this long, winding rebuild couldn’t crack the Winter Classic lineup over the aging Pat Maroon.

Nothing against Pat Maroon, but wow has Kurashev fallen off after inspiring so much hope last year. After spending ample time on Bedard’s wing earlier this season and failing to produce, things have only gotten worse for Kurashev. He has just three goals and five points in 30 games, no points in his last 11, and is a -27, 10 worse than his nearest teammate.

There is no obvious reason why Kurashev, 25, has struggled so mightily this season.

His ice time has slipped significantly, but he wasn’t producing when given decent minutes. That’s the name of the game in the NHL--if you don’t produce you don’t play.

Sure, Luke Richardson’s constant line juggling certainly didn’t help Kurashev, but everyone on the roster had to deal with that. That can no longer be used as an excuse now that Anders Sorensen is the interim head coach.

I was a big believer in Kurashev, and still am.

He has the skill and speed to produce consistently in the NHL. He has the smarts to play with elite talent like Bedard. But he has lost all confidence, and he is not going to receive more ice time to find it anytime soon. 

That is why GM Kyle Davidson must trade Kurashev before the trade deadline.

He is clearly not going to be re-signed.

The Hawks are going to give his ice time to Frank Nazar and potentially Oliver Moore next season and the team can’t afford to give up young talent for free like they did with Dylan Strome and Anthony Duclair in previous years.

Kurashev can still have a long and productive career in the NHL, and I truly hope he does, but it won’t be with the Blackhawks at this rate.

Even though Davidson may not get more than a late-round pick for Kurashev, he must pull the trigger on a deal rather than risk losing him for nothing.