Blackhawks 2025-26 Player Grades: Kevin Korchinski

Much like the 2024-25 season, Kevin Korchinski began the season in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs. The youngster had another great AHL campaign, making the AHL All-Star team for the second time in his career. In 53 AHL games, Korchinski posted 26 points (two goals, 24 assists). He played sporadically in the NHL throughout the season, but finished the season with the Blackhawks, playing 13 games in total and posting a pair of assists.

Korchinski was sheltered on the third pair in his small stint with the Hawks, averaging 13:38 time on ice. He showed improvement, but it still felt like he couldn’t earn the trust of the coaching staff. Korchinski was always going to take time to develop, but it feels like he’s stuck somewhere between the AHL and NHL at this point in time.

Korchinski was given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, meaning the Blackhawks retain his rights and first right to refusal on any offer sheets.

Player Grades

Blackhawks Cowboy’s Grade: C+

The first pick under the Kyle Davidson regime is looking bleak. Yes defensemen take longer to develop. Yes, Korchinski was a project pick. When developing a project, you don’t throw a guy into the fire and pray it works out. It didn’t, and both Korchinski and the Hawks are reeling from that 2022-23 season.

The young defenseman played well in his second stint with a much more refined defensive game. His play looked more confident compared to years past but not what was billed when Chicago selected him 7th overall. Unfortunately, it looks like Rockford again for Kevin Korchinski, who might not be a Blackhawk by the season’s start.

Tony Marchese’s Grade: C

Korchinski, unsurprisingly, didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself at the NHL level this season and once again spent most of it toiling away in Rockford and being the depth guy that got the chance after Artyom Levshunov’s season-ending injury.

He looked fine when he made the jump up to the NHL again, however, he only appeared in 13 NHL games this past season, and that doesn’t give us a lot of room to work with as far as grades go. It will be intriguing to see how the Blackhawks handle him moving forward, as the rumor mill always seems to implicate his name in potential and hypothetical trades.

Ron Luce’s Grade: C+

Perhaps one of the greatest wild cards on the roster, Kevin Korchinski had a very average season. The positive was his improved play on defense toward the end of the season and another AHL All-Star nod. The negative, however, is that Korchinski seemingly doesn’t have a place on the blue line.

There were reports that Kyle Davidson wanted to add a veteran defenseman, and he did that with Ian Cole. That likely means Korchinski is the odd man out. What does his future look like? Growth was there defensively, but I’m not sure he is living up to the billing as a 7th overall pick.

What’s On Tap Next?

Korchinski enters a pivotal season in his career. With a prove-it contract likely in the works for the young defenseman, he will need to show that he has grown his game and can stick on the Blackhawks’ blue line. Otherwise, a future for the former No. 7 pick in Chicago looks bleak.

Tell us if you agree with our grades! What would you give Kevin Korchinski? Let us know at @FourFeathersPod on X and Instagram!

Next Up: Spencer Knight