Kevin Korchinski’s next chapter is shaping up to be a test of staying power.
The Blackhawks still believe in the 2022 first-round pick, and the organization’s patience hasn’t changed. Chicago drafted him seventh overall because of the talent, and that same talent is why general manager Kyle Davidson, head coach Jeff Blashill and Rockford IceHogs coach Jared Nightingale all want to keep pushing this along.
Korchinski has already received a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, and he is still waiting on a new contract. Once that gets done, the focus shifts to 2026-27 - a season that should be defined by whether he can take the next step and lock down a place in Chicago.
His path has not been a straight line. Because of the CHL and AHL agreement, he couldn’t join Rockford until his second pro season, since players coming from the CHL could not play in the AHL before age 20.
Korchinski was 18 at the time. That rule is set to change next season.
Defensemen usually need more time anyway, and Korchinski is still only 22. The Blackhawks have seen enough to keep the belief alive. Over the last two seasons, he has spent most of his time with the IceHogs and put together a strong AHL résumé, including two All-Star selections and 53 points in 109 games.
He also got looks with Chicago, especially over the final two months of last season when Wyatt Kaiser, Artyom Levshunov and Matt Grzelcyk were dealing with injuries. Most of that NHL run came in a third-pair role alongside Ethan Del Mastro, who is also waiting to be re-signed as an RFA.
In 13 games with the Blackhawks last season, Korchinski had two points. The offensive upside is still obvious, including what he can bring on special teams.
His skating and two-way ability fit what Chicago wants. The defensive side can still get him into trouble, but the skill is unmistakable.
Blashill pointed to the kind of game he wants to see from Korchinski, saying, "It's important for all our young D, and certainly him included, to kind of get the opportunity to... you know, the injury is unfortunate to Grzelcyk. But this gives him an opportunity to show, you know, (how) he can help us win hockey games...
So, when he plays his best, to me, he's a guy who uses his feet to break the puck out and then hit to make really good passes. Like, that's where I think he does his best.
Uses his feet to defend. You know... we don't need him to necessarily be a guy who's taking it end to end.
Nobody does that in the league. You know, there's maybe two defensemen that do that in the league.
Use your feet as a breakout machine and move the puck to the open guy. And he's done a pretty good job of that.”
Korchinski knows what’s in front of him, and he said as much in exit interviews: "Yeah, obviously, gonna be a big offseason. Got things (we're going to) work on, and yeah, just come to camp with swagger, trying to prove I belong, and just have a good summer, good camp, and get things rolling."
The challenge now is squeezing into a crowded blue line. Chicago has Alex Vlasic, Bowen Byram, Sam Rinzel, Kaiser, Levshunov, Ian Cole, plus Korchinski and Del Mastro. There won’t be room handed out easily.
Nightingale said in June, "I thought Korch… he had a really good start to the year. You know, it takes a while.
What I love about Korch, he’s just an unbelievable human. Wants to get better.
It was tough- he was up and down a few times there. And then stretches when we were quite thin.
You know, we asked a lot of Korch, but… you never questioned his attitude and effort…He's somebody that we're not giving up on… He's a joy to work with. I think (Josh) MacNevin, our d-coach, did a really good job.
But he's a guy that has to take a step. He's entering his fourth year pro, so we're expecting a lot.”
Now Korchinski has a chance to make the Blackhawks’ belief look smart.
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