The Chicago Blackhawks have an important season ahead of them. The organization has committed to building through the draft, and a plethora of draft picks are NHL-ready, or on the cusp of being NHL-ready. Many young players will have a chance to make their mark this season; some becoming everyday players while many others will make their NHL debuts. Meanwhile, a small group of veterans will be tasked with helping the youngsters find their way.
In this series headed into the 2025-26 campaign, we’ll preview each player projected to make the roster, and what their role will be with the team. Today we highlight defenseman Kevin Korchinski.
Korchinski by the Numbers
Drafted: 7th overall (1st Round) in 2022 by the Blackhawks
Position: Defenseman (shoots left)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
Age/Birthdate: 21 years old (6/21/2004)
Country: Canada
2024-25 Stats: 1 goals, 1 assists, 2 points in 16 games
Career Stats: 6 goals, 11 assists, 17 points in 92 games
Related – Blackhawks 2025-26 Player Previews: Sam Rinzel
How He Got Here
It’s a pretty well-known story by now that Korchinski’s had a somewhat unique beginning to his NHL career. After being drafted seventh overall in the 2022 Draft by the Blackhawks, the young defenseman went on to have a dominating 2022-23 season with the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds. He tallied 11 goals and 73 points in 54 regular season games, and added three goals and 14 points in 19 playoff games.
In the 2023-24 season, due to an longstanding rule between the CHL and the NHL, the Blackhawks were not able to send the 19-year-old Korchinski to the AHL Rockford IceHogs. It was either the WHL again or the NHL. The organization chose to keep Korchinski close to the fold, and he stayed with the Blackhawks and suited up for 76 games.
This was a particularly difficult season for the team as a whole. If you recall, veteran Taylor Hall only suited up for 10 contests before missing the rest of the season with a torn ACL. This left rookie and new cornerstone of the franchise, Connor Bedard, with very little help around him. The Blackhawks finished the season 31st in the league, with a 23-53-6 record for just 52 points.
Korchinski, a rookie himself, definitely had his ups and downs. He ended up with five goals and 15 points in 76 games, but also…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…