This Chicago Blackhawks player is a major trade candidate this offseason

ESPN’s Rachel Kryshak wrote an article discussing players under 25 who could be traded this offseason. One member of the Blackhawks made this article in defenseman Kevin Korchinski. Below is what Kryshak wrote about why he is on this list:

“Another pending RFA who has been passed on the depth chart, Korchinski is an obvious trade candidate for Chicago to use to acquire a skilled forward. Korchinski will be 22 in June and has been passed by Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel for power-play time and offensive opportunities. After playing the majority of the season in the AHL and producing admirably, Korchinski is the prime candidate to make a positive impact with a regular NHL opportunity. He beats defenders one-on-one, attacks the middle of the ice, drives offensive play and has the potential to be a top-four defenseman in the NHL. Chicago has more depth on the right side, but Korchinski needs offensive reps to meaningfully impact the game, and that feels out of reach with this franchise.”

Korchinski, the seventh-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has struggled to find his footing. He has recorded 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) throughout 105 career games. It appears that a fresh start is the best-case scenario for both sides. As Kryshak said, Chicago has seemingly outgrown needing him on the roster at this point. Even with the salary cap space to keep him, this could be a chance to trade him away.

This is not the first time that Korchinski’s name has been discussed in trade rumors. There is the potential that Davidson’s first pick could re-sign and head to the minors. However, selling him for pennies on the dollar now seems like the better situation. Chicago can improve an area of need for the team while Korchinski gets a fresh start.