Chicago Blackhawks recall top prospect from AHL's Rockford IceHogs
Photo credit: Chicago Sun-Times
Blackhawks prospect Kevin Korchinski, who was taken 7th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has been re-called from the American Hockey League with 10 games left in the year.
The Chicago Blackhawks will not be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, and are throwing a bone to one of the top young players in the organization.
Kevin Korchinski, who has played the majority of the year with the AHL's Rockford Ice Hogs, has earned his 2nd call up to the Blackhawks and will likely be finishing the season at the NHL level.
Korchinski previously played 9 games with the Blackhawks this year before being returned to the AHL.
He's played in 85 total NHL games with 15 points (5G, 10A); however, he's yet to register a point this year.
Additional information of Korchinski's previous accomplishments via the Blackhawks' official site:
In 2021-22, Korchinski was fourth among Western Hockey League defensemen with 65 points (four goals, 61 assists), and third with 28 power-play assists, in 67 games for Seattle. He was the first WHL defenseman since Darryl Sydor of Kamloops in 1989-90 (66 assists) with at least 60 assists in his first year of NHL draft eligibility.
Korchinski also led WHL defensemen with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 25 playoff games to help Seattle reach the WHL final.
Korchinski also led WHL defensemen with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 25 playoff games to help Seattle reach the WHL final.
His scouting report via Elite Prospects reads as follows:
Most prospects use the middle lane sparingly. Korchinski attacks it every touch with unwavering confidence. Once he gets the first forechecker chasing, he skates directly at the next one. Sometimes, he fakes them out with handling skill and dekes around them. Others, he passes under their stick for a long-range breakout pass. If neither is an option, he encourages the forechecker to reach, then he cuts back away from them before moving play to the inside. Either way, the result is the same: he's beat two players, meaning there's an open teammate up the ice.
So far this year with the Ice Hogs, Korchinski has 27 points (3G, 24A) in 54 games.
| POLL | ||
MARS 27 | 635 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks recall top prospect from AHL's Rockford IceHogs What is the ceiling of Kevin Korchinski with the Blackhawks? | ||
| Top-pairing defenseman | 181 | 28.5 % |
| Middle-pairing defenseman | 338 | 53.2 % |
| Bottom-pairing defenseman | 73 | 11.5 % |
| Career AHL'er | 43 | 6.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
