Chicago Blackhawks willing to burn year off Kevin Korchinski's contract for a good sample size

The Chicago Blackhawks are willing to burn defenseman Kevin Korchinski's rookie season to assess his progress and development.

The Chicago Blackhawks seem satisfied with the idea of sacrificing defenseman Kevin Korchinski's rookie season in order to better assess his progress. Typically, in Korchinski's situation, where he is on an entry-level contract and is no older than 19 as of September 15th, a team would limit him to nine games, just shy of the 10-game threshold, and push his rookie season to the following year, thereby gaining an additional season of control.

General manager Kyle Davidson expressed that their approach with Korchinski is more than just a day-by-day decision. They aim to gather a substantial amount of data and gain a good understanding of his performance, development, and positive strides. They want to ensure that they give him enough time to showcase his abilities and progress. Davidson emphasized that while there is a lot of discussion surrounding the 10-game threshold, they will prioritize what they believe is best for the player. Ultimately, the goal is to put Korchinski in the best position to develop into the player they desire, regardless of whether his contract slides or not.

Davidson applied the same strategy with forward Lukas Reichel. Despite being just two games over the limit, Reichel played 11 games in the 2021-22 season, indicating that the organization prioritized his development over preserving a year on his contract.

Korchinski signed a three-year, $5.85 million contract in August 2022, and it slid a year after he spent the entire previous season with the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds. His contract, with a $918,333 cap hit and $1 million in annual performance bonuses, will expire after the 2025-26 season, coinciding with Connor Bedard's contract.

Korchinski expressed his surprise at the opportunity to make his NHL debut on opening night, considering he did not play for the Hawks at all last season. He acknowledged that he had no idea where he stood since he had never played a preseason or NHL game before.

Despite the uncertainty, Korchinski remains focused on his game and is not concerned about the length of his run. He considers it a privilege to be in the NHL and wants to stay as long as possible. However, he understands that he cannot control the decisions made by the team and will continue to focus on playing his game and putting in the work every day.

Coach Luke Richardson and assistant coach Kevin Dean have been in frequent communication with Korchinski during training camp, congratulating him on making the team. Richardson highlighted Korchinski's skating ability as a key asset that will help him in both defensive and offensive situations. As a defenseman, Korchinski is encouraged to prioritize defensive play while also capitalizing on offensive opportunities when there are openings in the opposing team's defense. Richardson also praised Korchinski's endurance, noting that he seems to have an unlimited energy reserve.

On the other hand, Richardson cautioned against playing it safe and sitting back too much, as it limits one's time with the puck. He emphasized the importance of taking calculated risks and seizing opportunities to contribute offensively.

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