Smooth-skating 19-year-old D-man would have been an interesting asset on 100-foot wide international rinks in Czechia.

Chicago Blackhawks rookie defenseman Kevin Korchinski was left off Canada's squad for the 2024 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic.

Hockey Canada announced a roster that skews young and includes Blackhawks rookie center Connor Bedard, Columbus rookie Adam Fantilli and presumptive 2024 No. 1 NHL draft pick Macklin Celebrini.

But the list of D-men didn't include the smooth-skating Korchinski, a 19-year-old native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He had five goals and 10 assists in 76 games and averaged 19:37 of ice time per game with the Blackhawks in 2023-24.

Said He Would Have Welcomed Chance

As the season ended, Korchinksi said he would have welcomed an opportunity to play at World Championship, which runs May 10-26 in Prague and Ostrava, Czechia. Canada opens against Great Britain on May 11. 

Korchinski starred with Bedard at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning a gold medal with Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

"Representing your country is special," Korchinski said. "It was one of the best experiences of my life. You'd be proud to do it."

Korchinski added he had plenty of energy left in the tank after his first NHL season. He thought skating at the upcoming tournament would help his development.

"Playing against the best players in the world is obviously going to help you learn from it," he said. "You learn from your teammates and playing against (other players)."

Korchinski needs to work on his physical strength and decision-making on the ice. But his skating — he accelerates like a Tesla — would have made him an interesting asset on a 100-foot wide international rink. Chicago coach Luke Richardson compared Korchinski's skill and style to that of Hall-of-Fame defenseman Scott Niedermayer.

Korchinski started to used his underrated shot more assertively as the season went on.

Korchinski was drafted seventh overall in 2022 by the Blackhawks. He played all of last season with Chicago after the Blackhawks decided he'd develop faster in the NHL than back in junior hockey with his previous team, the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds. 

Per an agreement with the CHL, players who are under contract to an NHL club, but not yet 20 years old, can't be sent to a minor pro team. Chicago's top affiliate is the AHL Rockford IceHogs.