Blackhawks could be preparing to trade former seventh-overall draft pick
Photo credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Kevin Korchinski went from seventh overall pick to a regular in the press box, and the Chicago Blackhawks may soon have to decide his future. With scouts and executives turning up at United Center games, trade buzz around the young defenseman is getting louder.
Korchinski has dressed in just three games this season. His first appearance came Oct. 3 against Buffalo, when Bowen Byram was away for the birth of his twin daughters, and he played 11:21 with a minus-2 rating.
Otherwise, head coach Jeff Blashill has kept him out, and at one point chose Ethan Del Mastro over him when Byram went down injured.
Why There Is No Room on the Blue Line
The situation is awkward because Korchinski signed a two-year contract in August. Still, the path to ice time looks crowded.
Byram, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Del Mastro all compete for minutes on the blue line, and his offensive style overlaps with Byram's.
The Athletic's Chris Johnston added fuel by placing Korchinski on his trade board, noting he is three years removed from his rookie season and still struggling to crack the lineup.
Scouts Are Circling Chicago
Last Friday, when Montreal visited Chicago, Philadelphia Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones was reportedly in the press box.
The Flyers were 3-7-3 through 13 games and have players like Owen Tippett, Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen who could interest a young Blackhawks group. A defenseman needing a fresh start could fit into a package.
Scouts in the building are not proof of a deal. Teams evaluate talent all season, and moving Korchinski now would mean selling low on a top-10 pick, as the Chicago Sun-Times pointed out. He has stayed professional, saying he must prepare properly and be ready when his chance comes.
Still, a player cannot rebuild value from the press box. If the Blackhawks stay healthy and Korchinski keeps sitting, a move to a team offering real minutes may benefit everyone involved.
At just 22 years old, he still has time to prove he belongs, but that opportunity may have to come somewhere else.
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