Kevin Korchinski is walking a fine line at Blackhawks training camp. He must strike a balance between demonstrating his defensive improvements and showcasing his offensive talent.
The now-21-year-old defenseman hasn’t yet reached the lofty expectations the Hawks placed upon him — based on his prolific WHL production and elite skating ability — after drafting him seventh overall in 2022.
He has predictably been a work-in-progress defensively. And because of those defensive struggles, he hasn’t had much puck possession, which has limited his opportunities to produce. Last season, he recorded 27 points in 56 AHL games and just two points in 16 NHL games.
But there’s still plenty of time for him to put things together, especially since defensemen notoriously take longer than forwards to develop. Perhaps a new perspective from new Hawks coach Jeff Blashill will help.
“‘Korch’ has to utilize his best assets,” Blashill said. “If part of that best asset is being offensive, you can’t lose that…as you’re getting good defensively. [But] everybody has to be good defensively in order to play in this league. It’s almost impossible to outscore your mistakes.
“One thing is, when I talk to him about his strengths, he talks about his skating. I think he can use that skating offensively in a sense of beating people up the ice…but he can also use his skating defensively to shut down plays [and] gap [up]. And if you do that, you spend more time in the ‘O’-zone.”
Korchinski walked an equally fine line this summer when deciding how much weight to put on.
He has overhauled his diet in recent years, eliminating processed foods in favor of meats and vegetables, which has made it easier for him to gain weight in healthy ways. He and the Hawks both acknowledged last spring he needed to get stronger this offseason, too.
However, he ultimately leveled off at 198 pounds, just a few pounds more than he weighed entering training camp last year (195 pounds) and in 2023 (193 pounds). Familiar reasoning lay behind that decision.
“I spent a lot of time in the gym, but at the same time, I’ve got to [keep] what makes me great,” Korchinski said. “I can’t turn into a different player. I can’t get bulky and slow and turn into a shutdown ‘D.’ I’m going to play to my strengths.”
The Hawks’ six preseason games — starting Tuesday at the Red Wings — will give him an opportunity to prove he deserves an NHL roster spot. And that’s a crucial opportunity, because he currently appears to be on the outside looking in.
Three pairings have been staples in camp so far: Alex Vlasic with Connor Murphy, Ethan Del Mastro with Sam Rinzel and Wyatt Kaiser with Artyom Levshunov.
Beyond them, Louis Crevier might have an inside track on the seventh and final defensive spot since he would now require waivers to be sent to Rockford (whereas Korchinski and Nolan Allan remain waiver-exempt).
There’s also veteran Matt Grzelcyk on his PTO. Blashill implied Grzelcyk will get a contract only if some of the Hawks’ young defensemen struggle during camp, indicating they need more time in Rockford. But Grzelcyk did notably practice with the second power-play unit Monday.
Del Mastro’s placement with Rinzel, a roster lock, is probably the most surprising aspect of those pairings. Blashill has praised Del Mastro’s “way of making plays…without being high-risk.”
Crevier, meanwhile, said he strengthened his core and glutes this summer, hoping to address some back tightness he previously experienced.
And Allan said he improved his flexibility and skating edge work, rounding out his physicality-based game. Everyone is trying to make their case.
“All the young ‘D,’ we’re all friends,” Korchinski said. “It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon. This competition — wherever each of us end up — is going to make us all better as individuals.”