I’m going to admit something up top: I was wrong in the pre-pandemic world on a few things, but probably nothing as much as I was on Alex DeBrincat. During his sophomore slump — largely influenced by an abysmal shooting percentage — I thought DeBrincat was done, toasted, caput.
I was, very clearly, wrong.
I say this because some of you may be saying the same thing about Philipp Kurashev after this year, and you’re also, very likely, wrong.
See, Phil the Thrill (because Kurashev at his best is far more thrilling than late-career Kessel and therefore deserves the nickname more) is one of, if not the forward most in need of good, consistent coaching who doesn’t want to scratch him every two games in favor of Reese or Tyler Johnson or another forward that no other team would dress to replace Kurashev in the lineup.