The Blackhawks second line defensive pairing has been revealed for the 2024-25 season
As GM Kyle Davidson spent millions turning over the Blackhawks' roster, to turn them into a competitive force, you have to wonder how will the new team look on ice?
Of course, the top-pairing remains the status quo, as Alex Vlasic and Seth Jones have proven themselves to be a reliable option for the Blackhawks.
However, what could the 2nd pairing defense look like for the Blackhawks?
As training camp begins a little less than a week away, all eyes will be on players like Kevin Korchinski. He was thrust into a full-time role in the NHL, as a 19-year-old who couldn't be sent down to the AHL, now 20 and with 76 NHL games under his belt he could benefit from more time, seeing as he's faced off against the best in the NHL he could be afforded more time to correct his errors before.
If Korchinski does end up making the roster out of training camp, who should his defensive partner be? A veteran would have to help shore up the 2nd pairing, like Alec Martinez.
Martinez could help shelter Korchsinki, mentor him, and give him a chance to play more offensively.
While Korchinski is still a raw talent, a veteran would help push forward his development.
Alec Martinez
Martinez couldn't be more of a polar opposite on the ice from Korchinski. As Korchinski is more of a puck-moving defenseman and can be a playmaker, Martinez isn't a big shooter but is a great defensive defenseman in the NHL.
He's a good skater and could help shore up the Blackhawks on the 2nd pairing defensively.
Martinez could play a shutdown role while letting Korchsinki excel at what he's good at.
He could help Korchinski create more plays and could end up getting in on a few goals as well.
Source: Sports Mockery
The Best Case Scenario for the Blackhawks Second Defensive Pairing for 2024-2025
| POLL | ||
Should the Blackhawks pair Alec Martinez with Kevin Korchinski? | ||
| Yes | 70 | 88.6 % |
| No | 9 | 11.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
