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<\/p>\nThe Blackhawks were outscored 77-47 when defenseman Kevin Korchinski was on the ice last season.<\/p>\n
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Regardless of the reasons behind those numbers, that\u2019s 77 times in which a shift ended in the worst-case scenario. That translated into a lot of negative feedback, and Korchinski became increasingly risk-averse, simply trying to survive \u2014 rather than thrive \u2014 each shift.<\/p>\n
In the AHL with Rockford this season, the Hawks want Korchinski, 20, to unlearn that behavior. They drafted him because of his dynamic offensive skills and bold playing style, knowing that some breakdowns and defensive deficiencies \u2014 which hopefully will improve over time \u2014 would come with that package. They want him to rediscover that approach.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018[It\u2019s] about trying to get back to how I know I can play,\u2019\u2019 Korchinski said last week. \u2018\u2018I\u2019m trying to create more and be more confident with the puck and take a few extra seconds to make the right play. [It\u2019s about] less trying to get by, more trying to make a difference.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
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Rockford coach Anders Sorensen and Hawks hockey-operations adviser Brian Campbell, a former Stanley Cup-winning defenseman who has become the front office\u2019s jack of all trades, have been giving him frequent advice.<\/p>\n
Unlike in the NHL last season, however, no healthy scratches or playing-time reductions accompany that advice. This is an unusual one-step-back development trajectory for Korchinski \u2014 one made necessary because he was ineligible for the minor leagues last season \u2014 but the Hawks are optimistic it\u2019ll work out well for him in the long term.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It helps him that it\u2019s a development league,\u2019\u2019 Sorensen said. \u2018\u2018He knows that even if there are some minor setbacks during the game, he\u2019s still going to get back on the ice.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
There have been some setbacks, of course. Korchinski, whom the Hawks drafted No. 7 overall in 2022, already has been on the ice for 23 goals against, the most on the team. He also has been on the ice for 18 goals for, tied for second-most on the team (behind forward prospect Frank Nazar).<\/p>\n
That ratio isn\u2019t ideal, but Sorensen said Korchinski\u2019s analytics are \u2018\u2018not as harsh,\u2019\u2019 and the Hawks also have accepted that his presence on the ice inevitably leads to high-event hockey. With his hair grown out and his jersey flapping when he blazes down the ice, Korchinski certainly looks the part.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Obviously, you don\u2019t want to take any dumb risks, but it\u2019s more about not just making the safe play,\u2019\u2019 Korchinski said with a grin. \u2018\u2018I know I can make plays out there, so go ahead and make them. It\u2019s no risk if you make the play, you could say.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
That said, Sorensen and Campbell are trying to improve Korchinski\u2019s defensive acumen. Hawks coach Luke Richardson mentioned several times last season that Korchinski\u2019s world-class skating ability actually makes his positioning harder to maintain because any small movement causes him to drift a relatively sizable distance.<\/p>\n
Sorensen\u2019s solution for that is an approach he calls \u2018\u2018quiet feet.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018He is such a good skater and wants to help out the team and do so well that he ends up overworking in certain situations,\u2019\u2019 Sorensen said. \u2018\u2018[He\u2019s] realizing that you\u2019re better off being in a good spot defensively and being good support for your teammates.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Said Korchinski: \u2018\u2018[I\u2019m working on] not chasing out to the corner, being too aggressive and trying to kill the play all by yourself. It\u2019s about trusting our structure and trusting that outside shots aren\u2019t going to hurt us. We can block them, front them or box out. [I\u2019m] just trying to limit the high-danger chances.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
He lives in Rockford with forward prospects Samuel Savoie and Gavin Hayes, and Savoie is going home with him to Saskatchewan for Christmas.<\/p>\n
That arrangement, combined with the AHL\u2019s weekend-heavy schedule, makes Korchinski feel \u2018\u2018like we\u2019re in college.\u2019\u2019 At his age, however, that might be exactly what he needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After a difficult rookie NHL season filled with negative feedback, Korchinski is “trying to get back to how I know I can play” while enjoying a longer leash in Rockford this season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,10,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago-blackhawks","category-nfl","category-san-francisco-49ers"],"yoast_head":"\n