Kevin Korchinski finds himself in a unique situation as the 2026-27 NHL season begins. The young defenseman with the Chicago Blackhawks spent much of the offseason as a restricted free agent. While others like Connor Bedard and Drew Commesso secured new contracts, Korchinski’s future with the team remained uncertain. He ended the speculation by signing a two-year, $2.65 million contract on August 29. Despite the delay in signing, Korchinski remained unconcerned. He stated on September 18, “I didn’t pay much attention since it was out of my control. I used the offseason as a chance to improve and trained with various coaches.”
General Manager Kyle Davidson shared a relaxed view regarding the timing of the contracts for Korchinski and fellow defenseman Ethan Del Mastro. Del Mastro signed a two-year, $1.9 million deal on September 16. Davidson noted on September 17, “We had other priorities. Timing isn’t the main issue. Their focus should be on growing, gaining experience, and seizing opportunities when available.” Korchinski, now waiver-eligible, needed to stay on the roster to avoid being claimed by another team. The additions of Bowen Byram and Ian Cole in the offseason suggested the Blackhawks still value Korchinski, the seventh pick in the 2022 draft.
Korchinski saw limited preseason action against the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. Even during a shortened training camp, he didn’t get the expected reps. On September 26, the Blackhawks announced an opening roster of 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders. Although Coach Jeff Blashill had previously used an 11-forward, seven-defenseman lineup, he stated on September 28 that rotations weren’t in the plan. “We’ll play the top six if differences are clear,” he explained. “We’ll fit the others in when possible, but no rotation is planned.”
Korchinski and Del Mastro debuted in Buffalo when Byram missed a game due to personal reasons. Both finished with a minus-2 rating, with Korchinski clocking the fewest minutes among defensemen. After the game, Blashill refrained from evaluating Korchinski’s performance, commenting only on Del Mastro’s good game.
Currently, Korchinski remains outside the lineup barring injuries or other circumstances affecting the top six defensemen. Blashill’s lack of immediate trust in Korchinski was evident and prompted a recall of Del Mastro ahead of Korchinski after injuries to Artyom Levshunov and Matt Grzelcyk. Korchinski now focuses on earning trust through practice, stating, “Trust has to be earned by being attentive and performing well in practice.”
Korchinski struggled during his rookie year in 2023-24, scoring 15 points with a minus-39 rating in 76 games. He played only 30 NHL games since and gathered 53 points in 109 games for the IceHogs. Both Blashill and Davidson emphasize developing young talent for the Blackhawks, yet Korchinski’s ice time remains limited. Mistakes are expected with the NHL’s youngest team. Blashill acknowledged mistakes in other players, such as forward Nick Lardis, encouraging continuous improvement. “Keep playing, and eventually things will work out,” he said.
Korchinski’s current role serves to protect him from being claimed by another team. He remains focused on learning. “Be a student of the game, be attentive, and be prepared,” he advised. Learning from veterans like Byram and Cole offers valuable insights. “I learn from their experiences, picking up small techniques I can adopt. It’s about adding without reinventing,” he mentioned. With Cole’s contract expiring in a year, Korchinski might get more opportunities soon. However, a season of limited games may not help his growth. Yet, Korchinski remains optimistic. “I ensure I’m ready when called upon. Practicing, taking care of my body, and staying prepared are my priorities,” he concluded.
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