Kevin Korchinski

May 2023 – Korchinski is having a fantastic year with the Seattle Thunderbirds who are currently facing the Winnipeg Ice in the finals for the Memorial Cup. This year with the Thunderbirds Korchinski has amassed 73 points in 54 games (11 goals and 62 assists). There is a real possibility that Korchinski makes the Blackhawks out of training camp. His offensive hockey IQ is well above average, andhe is very confident in handling the puck out of the zone. He is not much of a shooter and is known to be a pass first type of player but with Bedard on his way into the Windy City that may be just what the Blackhawks are looking for in their 7th overall pick. Puneet Sharma

August 2022 – Krochinski has made significant strides over the past few years. He plays offensively with fearlessness and confidence. His tall stature gives him a long reach advantage over the opposition, which helps push the puck out of the defensive zone. His aggressiveness and ambition can at times put  him in a vulnerable position however his offensive upside far outweighs the defensive breakdowns. Last season he played in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds posting nearly a point per game with 65  points (four goals and 61 assists) in 67 games. The Blackhawks recently signed him to an entry level contract though 2024-2025. Look to see Krochinski back in the WHL with the Thunderbirds for the 2022- 2023 campaign. Puneet Sharma

July 2022 – Korchinski has been selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

February 2022 – Korchinski has come a long way since posting 10 points in 23 games for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL in his draft-1 year. This season, Korchinski trails only Denton Mateychuck in scoring among all draft-eligible CHL defencemen with 36 points in 40 games. That list includes potential first-round selections Pavel Mintyukov, Mats Lindgren, and Ty Nelson.

Kevin Korchinski is another one of the prototypical mobile defencemen that have taken over the preferred style of defensive play in the NHL. Starting off with mobility, Korchinski’s straight-line speed is his best tool and he complements it with strong crossovers as well as slick puck skills. In addition to his great mobility, Korchinski also has above-average vision and passing ability, which is evidenced by his 32 assists in 40 games. When Korchinski has the puck, he isn’t always eager to get rid of it. He usually shows good patience with the puck, waiting to identify open passing lanes in order to advance the play. This has come in handy in the transition game. Korchinski uses his skating and passing to exploit the open area of the ice and transition the puck out of danger into an offensive possession. When in the offensive end, Korchinski is not afraid to be aggressive and join the attack. He is used on Seattle’s top powerplay as their quarterback, where he uses his mobility and vision to facilitate the puck into high danger areas. One thing Korchinski does not lack is confidence, whether the puck is on his stick or not, Korchinski exudes confidence. This either leads to a risky and impressive play or looking boneheaded and costing his team in the long run. At times Korchinski’s confidence gets the best of him. When defending the rush, Korchinski is often over-aggressive and commits to pressuring the puck carrier. He sometimes looks like a genius for breaking up the play and creating an odd-man rush. However, most of the time he gets beat and it creates a massive advantage for the opposition. This likely suggests that Korchinski could use some work improving his decision-making and hockey IQ. If Korchinski can learn the appropriate times to be aggressive and when to hold back, he will project as a top-four defenceman for whichever team takes a flyer on him. Zack Szweras