2025 Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25: Kevin Korchinski tumbles to No. 9

The 2025 version of Second City Hockey’s Top 25 Under 25 rankings continues with our Top 10, which will contain a lengthier breakdown of each individual who made it into that group.

Kevin Korchinski

Position: Defense

Birth date: June 21, 2004 (21)

Acquired via: First-round pick (7th overall) in 2022 NHL Draft

2024-25 team : Rockford IceHogs (AHL) | Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

2024-25 AHL stats: 27 points (3 G, 24 A) in 56 regular season games; 4 points (2 G, 2 A) in 7 postseason games

2024-25 NHL stats: 2 points (1 G, 1 A) in 16 games

Size: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Contract: One year, $918,333 AAV (entry-level contract)

Rankings: 8 (Eric, LBR), 9 (Dave), 10 (Zack)

Last T25U25 ranking: No. 5, down four spots

Since peaking at No. 2 on the 2023 offseason version of this list, Korchinski has slowly trickled down, a move fueled both by newer draft picks who\'ve joined the organization as well as the recent plateauing of Korchinski\'s development path. He\'s still just 21 years old and has more than enough time to change the current trajectory of his hockey career, but it\'s also hard to totally ignore what\'s happened with Korchinski since he turned pro starting with the 2023-24 hockey season. The 2024-25 season was better for Korchinski in the AHL than the NHL-heavy prior season was, but plenty of questions still remain regarding Korchinski\'s long-term projections.

While skating with the IceHogs for most of last season, Korchinski led all Rockford defenseman in both assists (24) and points (27) -- the kind of offensive production expected from a former No. 7 overall pick playing in the AHL. He took another step forward in the postseason, picking up four points (2 G, 2 A) in seven games while consistently navigating the transition game and turning defense into offense. Here\'s what LBR wrote about Korchinski\'s brief playoff stint back in May:

.. the playoffs are when Korchinski really shined: he stepped up big as the No. 1 defensemen, playing the top minutes overall and making a positive impact at both ends of the ice. Again, skating was a huge factor for Korchinski as he was a transition machine, breaking out of the defensive zone regularly, helping push the puck forward more often than not. He created a lot of chances for himself and teammates, and it felt like he deserved more than just four points. He had some really neat fake-outs with shots and passes that he displayed more confidently in his game as the season progressed but especially in the playoffs.

Scott Powers of The Athletic had a similarly glowing review from portions of Korchinski\'s postseason:

Went back and watched last night's IceHogs' game, might put together a story after the series. But I thought Kevin Korchinski stood out in GM 1. He played a game-high 23:43 & just used his skating more consistently.

Here's one example to set up a scoring chance: pic.twitter.com/vZZNCwWIPB

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) May 2, 2025

There were signs of progress from the regular season as well, but that strong postseason finish for Korchinski was indicative of his fully realized version: an adept skater who can break the puck out with his feet or with his skillful hands to help make things happen at the other end of the nice. In the offensive zone, those same skills can make Korchinski a menace from the blue line, where he can create scoring chances for teammates or for himself consistently. But Korchinski also struggled against physicality at times last season in the AHL, which was one of the key issues during his rookie NHL season as well. That may always be a weaker part of Korchinski\'s game, but improvement there could help ensure he\'s not as much of a liability in the defensive portions of the game.

Another offseason of bulking up could do wonders for Korchinski as well, as he transitions from a lankier teenager to an athlete in his early-20s who could be better able to withstand the physical rigors of the hockey season. Korchinski is in the final year of his entry-level contract and seems destined for a longer look at the NHL level this season, but Chicago\'s blue line corps is getting awfully crowded these days, and ice time won\'t be handed out based on draft positioning -- it\'ll have to be earned.

2025 Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25 list (so far): No. 10: Oliver Moore No. 11-15: Lardis, Del Mastro, Kaiser, Boisvert, Reichel No. 16-20: Dach, Nestrasil, Commesso, Greene, Vanacker Nos. 21-25: Allan, Slaggert, Behm, Spellacy, Mustard Honorable Mentions: Pridham, Savoie, West

Kevin Korchinski

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