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21-year-old Chicago Blackhawks defenseman already on the hot seat during his contract year

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Julien Trekker
September 23, 2025 (8:36 PM)

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A 21-year-old defenseman in the Chicago Blackhawks organization appears to be on a hot season as he enters the final year of his contract.

For the first time in years, there's actually competition at the Chicago Blackhawks' training camp, with players battling for a spot in the lineup.

The race is especially fierce on the blue line, where, as Frank Seravalli noted not so long ago, the Hawks can count on nine or ten true NHL defensemen.

Among them, Kevin Korchinski is definitely one to watch closely.

Since he was drafted 7th overall in 2022, he has failed to reach expectations set by management, and is already entering the final year of his entry-level contract.

The player and his new head coach, Jeff Blashill, opened up about his situation in a recent interview.

Korchinski Has To Be Better To Stay In Chicago And The NHL

The defenseman, who scored 27 points in 56 games last season with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL, and two points in 16 games with the Blackhawks, had the best season of his career in the WHL, when he scored 73 points in 64 games during the 2022-23 season with the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Here's what he said about how he prepared to enter the new season in a recent interview:

"I spent a lot of time in the gym, but I've got to [keep] what makes me great. I can't turn into a different player. I can't get bulky and slow and turn into a shutdown defenseman. I'm going to play to my strengths."

He also mentioned how the whole defensive unit is friends despite the high compete level:

"All the young 'D,' we're all friends. It's not a sprint; it's a marathon. This competition, wherever each of us ends up, is going to make us all better as individuals."

Jeff Blashill, the Hawks' new coach, also shared some words on Korchinski's situation this season:

"'Korch' has to utilize his best assets. 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."

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The Blackhawks' preseason will provide many answers. Meanwhile, three pairings were nearly confirmed at camp: Alex Vlasic with Connor Murphy, Ethan Del Mastro with Sam Rinzel, and Wyatt Kaiser with Artyom Levshunov. As you can see, Korchinski was left out.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

Chicago Blackhawks make a big decision in goal for preseason matchup against the Detroit Red Wings

Chicago Blackhawks officially announce captaincy decision on Connor Bedard

Stan Bowman faces backlash for the mistreatment as an ex-Edmonton Oilers player breaks his silence

POLL
SEPTEMBRE 23 \| 222 ANSWERS 21-year-old Chicago Blackhawks defenseman already on the hot seat during his contract year Do you think Kevin Korchinski will play 40 games or more in the NHL this season?
Yes	141	63.5 %
No	81	36.5 %
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21-year-old Chicago Blackhawks defenseman already on the hot seat during his contract year

A 21-year-old defenseman in the Chicago Blackhawks organization appears to be on a hot season as he enters the final year of his contract.

Korchinski Has To Be Better To Stay In Chicago And The NHL

Do you think Kevin Korchinski will play 40 games or more in the NHL this season?