Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman told Scott Powers of The Athletic on Sunday night that the team could “potentially” sign prospect Philipp Kurashev this year.
Kurashev, 19, was the breakout star of the World Junior Championship in the British Columbia the past two weeks with a tournament-leading six goals and 28 shots on goal. His seven points were tied for the second most in the tournament.
Kurashev’s production helped Switzerland reach the bronze-medal game before falling Russia 5-2. It was Switzerland’s first shot at a medal since winning bronze in 1998 in Helsinki, Finland.
The 6-foot, 192-pound center has 18 goals and 43 points in only 33 QMJHL games for the Quebec Remparts this season. His produciton is up from last season, when he tallied 19 goals and 60 points in 59 games.
Bowman noted that Kurashev “doesn’t have to go back to junior next year” due to center’s late birthday — Kurashev turns 20 on Oct. 12. The Blackhawks drafted him with the fourth round draft pick acquired in the Ryan Hartman trade last year.
If Bowman does sign, it’d be interesting to see what the future holds for centers Artem Anisimov and Marcus Kruger. The 30-year-old Anisimov carries a $4.5 million salary cap hit with a modified no-trade clause contract, and the 28-year-old Kruger ($2.775M) is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.