Projecting the Chicago Blackhawks lineup: Philipp Kurashev’s new contract plugs in the final puzzle piece

The Chicago Blackhawks reached a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension with Philipp Kurashev last weekend through an arbitration ruling, establishing the forward as likely the last major roster piece heading into the 2023-24 season.

The Hawks and Kurashev, who played out a one-year, $750,000 contract last season, reportedly were about $1 million apart, and Kurashev sought arbitration. He was awarded $2.25 million annually, and because it was the player who elected for arbitration, the Hawks got to choose the two-year term.

The contract fits the Hawks’ window for evaluating the first iteration of their rebuilt roster.

According to CapFriendly.com, only nine players on the active roster have contracts that extend beyond next season, and that list includes some core players: forwards Kurashev, Connor Bedard (who signed for three years and $13.35 million on July 17), Taylor Hall, Andreas Athanasiou and Ryan Donato; defensemen Seth Jones, Connor Murphy and Wyatt Kaiser; and goalie Arvid Söderblom.

Forward Lukas Reichel and defenseman Alex Vlasic are due to be restricted free agents next summer, but they’re high in the Hawks pipeline and expected to play their way into long-term contracts this season.

Here’s a breakdown of what the Hawks lineup could look like now that the Kurashev matter is settled.

First line

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Blackhawks' No. 1 draft pick Connor Bedard is introduced at Fifth Third Arena on June 30, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Left wing: Taylor Hall

Center: Connor Bedard

Right wing: Taylor Raddysh

What to know: You could say this line is, um, “Taylor-made” for Bedard’s development. Hall is the built-in mentor on and off the ice, and the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner has said he feels he has something to prove after the Boston Bruins traded him to Chicago.

Bedard had a monster junior season with the Regina Pats, putting up 71 goals and 71 assists, but during the draft he shied away from broadcasting personal benchmarks.

“Right now it’s more just having a good rest of the summer and training and getting better and ... trying to have a good camp and make the team,” Bedard said. “If all that goes well, then start setting some goals.”

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Second line

Left wing: Lukas Reichel

Center: Andreas Athanasiou

Right wing: Tyler Johnson

What to know: Kurashev and Reichel showed a lot of chemistry in limited time together last season (and both speak German), but both are likely to start off at left wing.

However, don’t be surprised if Reichel gets a look on the top line with Hall and Bedard during camp. If Reichel builds on his abilities as a facilitator and jells with Bedard early, plans could change.

Reichel also will get a look at center, which Rockford IceHogs coach Anders Sorensen said Reichel “for sure” can play. Sorensen said Reichel needs to work on faceoffs “and just handling the rigors of the down-low play in the NHL. … With his ability to create and play off the rush, that would do well for him.”

Both Johnson and Athanasiou played center and right wing, but late last season Hawks coaches favored Athanasiou in the middle. Still, expect some shuffling here.

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Third line

Left wing: Philipp Kurashev

Center: Jason Dickinson

Right wing: Ryan Donato

What to know: Donato signed a two-year, $4 million contract on July 1 after spending the last two seasons with the Seattle Kraken. General manager Kyle Davidson liked his ability to play all three forward spots in case of injuries.

Donato finished last season in Seattle as a fourth-line center, but the Hawks love Dickinson in the middle. He finished fourth on the team in assists.

Kurashev was shut down in late March with a shoulder injury. Coach Luke Richardson said in March that Kurashev “has to get a little bit more fire in his desire in certain things. He does get a little bit revved up sometimes, but he needs it a little more consistently and a little more fire in shooting that puck.”

Fourth line

Left wing: Nick Foligno

Center: Colin Blackwell

Right wing: Corey Perry

What to know: Between Foligno and Perry — and their hard-nosed reps — this should be one of the most entertaining fourth lines.

You could pencil in Cole Guttman in place of Blackwell. The Hawks like each skater’s work ethic, and both should have recovered from injuries (shoulder for Guttman, hernia for Blackwell) by training camp, but Blackwell is heavier and more experienced.

Foligno announced himself as a designated headhunter should any goons target Bedard — “My kids have asked me about Bedard about 1,000 times” — and Perry’s no slouch in that area either. Reese Johnson often served in that role, so it brings his future into question. He and fellow fourth-liner MacKenzie Entwistle become restricted free agents after this season.

First defensive pairing

Left: Kevin Korchinski

Right: Seth Jones

What to know: Korchinski had a great year helping drive the Seattle Thunderbirds to the Western Hockey League championship, so he probably has learned as much as he can there and Canadian Hockey League rules prohibit him from playing in the AHL.

It wouldn’t hurt to have Jones, another offensive defenseman, start to guide Korchinski, but Davidson wants to see how Korchinski handles camp: “Hopefully he has a good summer where he continues to build his body, continues to grow into his frame and he’s ready for that full pro hockey season.”

Second pairing

Left: Alex Vlasic

Right: Connor Murphy

What to know: Vlasic spent the majority of his NHL ice time last season with Murphy, and it makes sense for him to continue training under the veteran.

The emergence of Vlasic, Isaak Phillips and Wyatt Kaiser spelled the end of the line for Caleb Jones, Seth’s brother, who didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the Hawks and became an unrestricted free agent.

”It was an extremely difficult decision on Caleb,” Davidson said. “We’re likely going to give a look to some of our younger defensemen, give them the opportunity to fight it out in training camp. … And it’s a key time in Caleb’s career. Being in and out of the lineup, I’m not sure that necessarily helps him.”

Third pairing

Left: Jarred Tinordi

Right: Nikita Zaitsev

What to know: Tinordi is a former waiver claim the Hawks love to boast about. They signed him to an additional year for $1.25 million in April. Tinordi relishes his reputation for toughness: “You’d like to think so, right? I just tried to play my game.”

Zaitsev, who turns 32 on Oct. 29, is likely playing out his last season in Chicago. His trade to the Hawks in February was a salary-cap move ($4.5 million cap hit) for the Ottawa Senators, and young players such as Kaiser and Phillips are waiting in the wings.

Goalies

Starter: Petr Mrázek

Backup: Arvid Söderblom

What to know: The 31-year-old Mrázek will play out the last year of his contract ($3.8 million cap hit) before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Söderblom signed a two-year, $1.925 million contract in May. He had some clunkers among last season’s 15 outings, but he told the Tribune he learned not to let setbacks affect him.

“Of course there’s going to be losses, there’s going to be bad goals,” he said. “But as long as you have the mindset that you’re doing your best, you’re there 100% mentally and you’re focused on doing a good job, then I don’t think there’s anything you can regret, honestly.”