Blackhawks rookie Kevin Korchinski sends himself to the AHL with this one �unacceptable' move

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Joshua Deeds
October 2, 2024 (8:55)

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The Chicago Blackhawks may have to send Kevin Korchinski to the AHL, as the game against the Minnesota Wild, has exposed his weaknesses.

Korchinski would end up turning over the puck and that would lead to a weird, own-goal by Lukas Reichel as reported by the Chicago-Sun Times Ben Pope.

This is a troubling development for the Blackhawks, as they need both Lukas Reichel and Kevin Korchinski on their best game against the interdivisional rivals, the Minnesota Wild.

The turnover tied the game 1-1 after Jason Dickinson put the team in front of the Wild.

If anything this proves, that Kevin Korchsinki needs to spend some development time in Rockford. He's looked weak on defense and was caught off guard by a Wild player, checking him into the boards.

We need to consider that he needs another year of minor-league play where the IceHogs can help him develop a full defensive game, along with his offensive prowess.

The stats below lend well to an argument to keep Korchinski up in the NHL, but the Blackhawks know his weaknesses and will want to see improvement from him in his 200-foot play.

According to Natural Stat Trick, thru three preseason games there are four defensive pairs for the Blackhawks who have been on the ice for at least seven Blackhawks' shots on goal at 5-on-5. Three of the four include Korchinski:

Murphy-Korchinski (8 Chicago shots on net, 56.0 Corsi For percent)
Brodie-Korchinski (8 Chicago shots, 37.5 Corsi For percent)
Vlasic-Korchinski (7 Chicago shots, 48.72 Corsi For percent)
the fourth pair is Allan-Del Mastro (7 Chicago shots, 48.48 Corsi For percent)

Korchinski was the youngest defenseman in the entire NHL last year. He had his learning moments throughout the season, but I think it's important to remember how young he was. It's also important that we remember that he tragically lost his father in the middle of his rookie season. As someone who also lost his father during the season, focusing on hockey isn't easy. Doing it as a teenage rookie in the NHL and not writing about the team? I can't imagine.

Keep in mind, last season he played 76 games and wasn't able to return to the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds because the Blackhawks burned his first year of his ELC and couldn't send him to the AHL.

These are also things to consider, as Korchinski has done the best he could with the tools given to him as a rookie defenseman.

Now, it is time to send him to hopefully become the defenseman we know he can be, and join the ranks of IceHogs defensemen like Alex Vlasic who has developed nicely in the AHL.

Source: Bleacher Nation
Kevin Korchinski Getting Plenty of Preseason Opportunities

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Should the Chicago Blackhawks send Kevin Korchinski down to the Rockford IceHogs for half of the 2024-2025 season?
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