The last stretch of the season has been an unofficial audition for some Chicago Blackhawks players. For Kevin Korchinski, his recent “tryouts” have dazzled.
The blueliner — drafted No. 7 by the Hawks in 2022 — played arguably his best NHL games in Seattle and San Jose this week. Korchinski logged 11:20 minutes of ice time and the primary assist on Sacha Boisvert’s first NHL goal against the Kraken and 15:38 ice time, a blocked shot and a hit at the playoff-hopeful Sharks.
He’s been recalled from the IceHogs three times this season, but the first two were temporary inclusions. The third time’s proving to be the charm.
“I tried to play more confident and have fun out there, play free but not play too loose,” Korchinski said. “Playing with (Ethan Del Mastro) has been great, we have a lot of chemistry together.”
Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said he has started to see improvements in Korchinski’s game. It wasn’t like that to start, as he was wary of giving the 21-year-old significant time.
Blashill ran his early defensive pairs with Korchinski as a way to avoid throwing him to the wolves. He played 8:24 in Colorado on Feb. 28 and about two minutes longer the next afternoon in Utah.
“That’s just the way it is, you’re trying to put him in spots to succeed,” Blashill said after losing to the Stanley Cup-favorite Avalanche. “When (Nathan) MacKinnon or that (Brock) Nelson line come out, those are real top lines, so we’re trying to put him in a position to succeed.”
The recent injury shutdowns of Artyom Levhsunov and Matthew Grzelcyk opened the door for Korchinski to show out, though other ways would’ve been preferred. The coach celebrated his play in the last two road games.
“He’s not over-complicating it, he’s using his feet to beat pressure, then he’s moving the puck to the open people,” Blashill said after the Hawks’ 4-2 win in Seattle. “When he does that and defends with his feet, he’s been a good player.”
Korchinski didn’t take any offense to the early “what does this kid got?” treatment from the first-year coach. It’s what the Western Hockey League product expected.
“You got to earn your minutes in this league and when you get called up, first impressions (are) huge,” Korchinski said. “Whether it’s practice, whether it’s being attentive in meetings, on the ice and games, playing hard, showing you belong and showing you want it, I think it is the biggest thing.”
Korchinski is in the final year of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent — along with Del Mastro — when the free-agency window opens in July. He’s hoping to have the type of late-season boost that inked 2022 draftmate Frank Nazar his seven-year, $46 million extension last offseason.
Nazar scored nine points (five goals, four assists) in the final month of the 2024-25 campaign. Korchinski won’t be expected to score like a forward, but he can certainly stand out the same way.
“The end of the day in this league, nothing’s given, everything’s earned,” Korchinski said. “Doesn’t matter who you are, you got to show up every night, every practice, every meeting with full attentiveness and focus and play the right way.”
Blashill has been observing all his players in general as the season comes to a close. He needs to figure out consistent pairs, lines, play style and have the players to fill the jigsaw for the future. Maybe Korchinski has solidified himself as a puzzle piece.
“Sometimes for an older guy, it’s showcasing where your game’s still at, sometimes for a young guy, it’s showcasing your growth and what you can do,” Blashill said. “It’s important for all our young D and certainly (Korchinski) included to get the opportunity.
“When he plays his best, to me, he’s a guy who uses his feet to break the puck out and then hit to make really good passes. There are maybe two defensemen who do that in the league, use your feet as a breakout machine and move the puck to the open guy and he’s done a pretty good job of that.”
