Blackhawks Philipp Kurashev on being a healthy scratch: ''Life isn't fair'' and more
The Chicago Blackhawks have inadvertently created an experiment with the bottom six, with Philipp Kurashev being a healthy scratch.
The experiment involved putting Andreas Athanasiou in Kurashev's spot in the top six, despite the fact that Kurashev had chemistry with Taylor Hall, and Tyler Bertuzzi.
While he wasn't scoring, he was driving offense with Bertuzzi, and Hall and you could see on the ice he was doing the best he could.
You also have to take into account the fact that Kurashev himself is playing out of position, and arguably belongs on the top line with Connor Bedard.
But nevertheless, this seems like the deployment we'll see for Kurashev this season, a 2nd line Center. A position, even Luke Richardson should know that he'll have to grow into.
A day before the game against the Nashville Predators, Kurashev found himself back in the lineup and was asked about his healthy scratch:
Richardson meant for him to understand the fact that he needs to be a reliable producer not only for his coach but for his teammates as well:
Kurashev has played 6 games for the Blackhawks and has only scored 1 goal, at even strength.
The Blackhawks do need more, and it sounds like Kurashev is ready to take his medicine and do better tomorrow against the Predators.
They recently won their first game against the Boston Bruins, in a shut-out victory and will look to build upon the small victory and hopefully put two together.
The Hawks will need to be on their best game, and come out firing on all cylinders if they're to shut down Ryan O'Reilly, Jonathan Marchessault, and the Preds.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Luke Richardson made a mistake scratching Kurashev from the lineup? | ||
| Yes | 75 | 75 % |
| No | 25 | 25 % |
| List of polls | ||
