The Chicago Blackhawks and forward Philipp Kurashev will be partnered for the next two years after an independant salary arbitrator awarded the 23-year-old a contract. The deal carries a salary-cap hit of $2.25 million per year.

The decision was announced by the team on Sunday, after the Swiss-Russian centre set career highs with nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points over 70 games in the Windy City last season.

In his career, he's scored 23 goals, 39 assists and 62 points in 191 games, all with he Hawks. He was selected by the team in the fourth round, No. 120 overall, of the 2018 NHL Draft, and made his big league debut back in January of 2021.

Kurashev was the first of 22 restricted free agents who filed for arbitration to have a hearing. His third season with the Hawks saw his ice time rise by over four minutes, from 12:51 in 2021-22 to 17:25.

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The young forward has represented Switzerland eight times on the international stage, taking part in three World Championships and two World Junior Championships.

After the signing, Chicago still has a boatload of cap space. They acquired Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno in a trade with the Boston Bruins on Jun. 27, before inking Corey Perry to a one-year pact just three days later.

Foligno and Perry will be unrestricted free agents at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, while Hall is on the books through 2024-25.

Although the rebuild continues in Chicago, it will be an exciting season after the team won the draft lottery and selected the highest-touted prospect in the history of the sport in Connor Bedard at No. 1 overall.