Star Chicago Blackhawks rookie left off the team NHL roster for 2024-25 season

As roster projections have Korchinski starting his hockey season in the AHL unless he can beat a veteran for a spot.

NHL Insider Ben Pope thinks Korchinski will eventually be in the NHL lineup, but not to start out the season.

It's projected that TJ Brodie and Alec Martinez will be on the 2nd pair behind Seth Jones and Alex Vlasic. Finally on the 3rd pair, is Wyatt Kaiser and Connor Murphy, with Louis Crevier and Isaak Philips battling it out for the 7th-D position.

Korchinski would have started his professional career in the AHL if he wasn't 19 and stuck out during the early part of 2023.

The first-round pick in 2022, played well enough during his first nine games, that the Blackhawks felt it'd been a waste to send him back to the WHL. He had accomplished all he needed to there. Of course, though, there are growing pains, as he only had 15 points for the season, and at times was hesitant to shoot the puck. He was benched a few times as well.

A stint in the AHL could be beneficial for him as a defenseman as he needs to learn how to be assertive, not only offensively, but defensively as well.

Sending him to the AHL would lead to positive development for Korchinski, as most Blackhawks defensemen have responded positively to spending a season or two in Rockford.

However, since he wasn't 20 last season he couldn't be sent down to the AHL and he would show what he was worth, skating in 76 games in 2023-2024.

He still needs to hone his game as a defenseman and this could be a positive development for Korchinski.

Source: BlackhawkUp
This roster projection has Kevin Korchinski not making the Chicago Blackhawks' opening night roster