The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Swiss-born forward Philipp Kurashev with the No. 120 overall pick in the fourth round of the NHL draft Friday in Dallas.
Kurashev, 18, scored 19 goals and 60 points in 59 games last season for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. The left-handed shot also had a goal and two assists in five games for Switzerland at the World Junior Championship. He’s set to return to the Remparts next season.
He’s the son of Konstantin Kurashev, who has bounced around Switerzland’s coaching ranks and was most recently an assistant coach with HK Sochi in the KHL. The elder Kurashev has since taken the head coach for EHC Chur in Switzerland.
Philipp Kurashev, a 6-foot, 190-pounder, was ranked No. 61 by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters.
Kurashev is the first Swiss player drafted by the Hawks since 2000, when interim general manager Bob Pulford selected Reto Von Arx and Arne Ramholt in the ninth round.
Kurashev is the fifth No. 120 pick in franchise history for Chicago, with the most notable one being Steve Larmer in 1980. Larmer won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 1983 and became one of the best players to ever wear a Hawks sweater.